A trip meant to culminate in a national championship dissolved into accusations and arrests for eight Philadelphia teenagers in Florida. The young athletes, members of the United Thoroughbreds football team, were in Davenport preparing to face the Coco Tigers when authorities say they turned to theft.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd didn’t mince words, publicly identifying each of the eight suspects – Daimon Johnson, Elijah Myers, Ibm-Mahdee Abdul-Haqq, Jacob Smith, Marcus Hudgens, Mark Bryan, Tymir Smith, and Tymir Speller – during a pointed press conference. He highlighted the irony of their situation, stating they missed the game but his office was “finishers” in bringing them to justice.
The alleged scheme, according to investigators, was surprisingly methodical. The teens reportedly split into groups, with one member making a legitimate purchase while the others discreetly concealed merchandise. The purchased bag then served as a mobile hiding place for the stolen goods, all captured on the store’s surveillance system.
Sheriff Judd displayed a detailed list of the allegedly stolen items, emphasizing the extent of the thefts. The brazenness of the act, unfolding in plain sight of store employees watching the security footage, seemed to particularly frustrate authorities.
The arrests occurred Saturday morning, hours before the championship game. The team’s coach reportedly pleaded for leniency, attempting to shield the players from consequences, but his efforts were unsuccessful. The young men, aged 14 and 15, found themselves in a juvenile detention center as their team took the field.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis weighed in, sharing footage of the sheriff’s press conference and declaring the teens “picked the wrong state – and the wrong county.” The championship game ended in a 26-6 loss for the United Thoroughbreds, a defeat compounded by the absence of key players.
Despite having no prior criminal records, each teenager now faces two felony charges: retail theft exceeding $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft. They returned to Philadelphia after the game, but will be required to travel back to Florida to answer for the accusations.
Sheriff Judd expressed concern for the remaining team members, questioning the impact of the alleged actions on their efforts. He delivered a stark warning: cooperation with law enforcement would be rewarded, while criminal behavior would be met with unwavering opposition, concluding the press conference with a terse “Merry Christmas.”
