A youth football team’s trip to Florida ended in disgrace after eight teenagers were arrested for a brazen theft at a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Davenport. The players, members of the Philadelphia-based United Thoroughbreds, were in Polk County for the Prolifix Nationals tournament when the incident unfolded on Saturday.
Store managers quickly alerted authorities after observing multiple juveniles concealing merchandise within the store. Deputies arrived within minutes to find a coordinated effort underway, with the teens operating in two distinct groups to maximize their haul.
Surveillance footage revealed a calculated scheme. One group scouted the store while the other made a legitimate purchase, using the accompanying bag to discreetly conceal over $2,000 worth of stolen goods. The stolen merchandise was then passed out of the store, where law enforcement was waiting.
Those arrested included Daimon Johnson, Mark Bryan, Ibn Mahdee Abdul Haqq, Elijah Myers, Tymir Speller, Marcus Hudgens, Tymir Smith, and Jacob Scott, all between the ages of 14 and 15. Bryan was found with the bulk of the stolen items, while Abdul-Haqq attempted to conceal goods in a backpack.
The total value of the stolen merchandise reached $2,296.07. Despite questioning, none of the suspects offered any statements regarding their actions. They were subsequently transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center and charged with Retail Theft and Conspiracy to Commit Retail Theft, both felonies.
The arrests had immediate consequences for the team. The eight players were barred from participating in their scheduled championship game, a devastating blow to their tournament hopes. The Thoroughbreds ultimately lost the game without their full roster.
Sheriff Grady Judd delivered a pointed message, contrasting the accountability expected in Polk County with what he implied was a lack thereof in Philadelphia. He stated the teens “chose to steal” and branded them “Thoroughbred thieves,” emphasizing that the law applies equally to visitors and residents.
Judd further highlighted the stark difference in crime rates, noting Polk County’s 53-year low compared to the situation in Philadelphia. He suggested a direct correlation between accountability and criminal behavior, questioning why similar results weren’t seen elsewhere.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that choices have consequences, and that attempting to exploit a community will be met with swift and decisive action. The young athletes traded the pride of competition for the reality of facing criminal charges in a county that takes law and order seriously.
The team’s trip, intended to showcase athletic prowess, instead became a cautionary tale of poor judgment and the repercussions of unlawful behavior.
