Group Of Suspects Staying In Central Florida Rental Apprehended

A group of suspects staying in a Central Florida rental were all apprehended.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies recently arrested 12 adults and three juveniles for stealing food and drinks at the Davenport Wawa on Old Lake Wilson Road. According to local police officials, all of the suspects were living in an AirBNB while visiting Polk County from different parts of Florida. A 16th suspect was apprehended during the inquiry for interfering with deputies who were arresting the theft suspects.

“This is a classic case of people who came to our county, fooled around, and found out,” Sheriff Grady Judd said. “Now they’re all facing charges because they found it perfectly acceptable to go into the Wawa, grab what they wanted, and consume it without paying for it.”

After watching the suspects roaming throughout the store, concealing bottled drinks and some food under their garments, store personnel called the Sheriff’s office. The trio appeared to know each other, and they came to the business in three different vehicles: a BMW, a Tesla, and a Honda Accord.

According to local law officials, the suspects, a mix of young people and kids, were taking turns entering and exiting the store during a 15-minute period, with some eating and drinking the things they took. They were also collaborating to hide each other from the store clerks by obscuring their view while their companions committed robberies.

The employees provided specific descriptions of the perpetrators and their vehicles, and when deputies arrived, the suspects were still in the Wawa parking lot, prepared to depart.

Deputies apprehended and interviewed all of the suspects, recovering some of the stolen things that had not yet been eaten and collecting empty bottles and packages of the items they possessed. All of the suspects admitted taking the things.

According to law authorities, the products stolen and/or eaten were Calypso beverages, Brisk ice tea, a bag of Cheetos, and a ramen soup, totaling around $40. Deputies also acquired video surveillance footage from the store, which showed the organized theft.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the suspects responsible for the retail thefts are:

19-year-old Angel Quintero, from Winter Springs, FL
18-year-old Genaiya Saintira, from Hollywood, FL
19-year-old Valencia Saul, from Lantana, FL
20-year-old Pervaysia Laster, from Boynton Beach, FL
19-year-old Shenia Smith, from Parkland, FL
19-year-old Lillian Brown, from Hollywood, FL
18-year-old Sterllin Hyppolite, from Lauderdale Lakes, FL
21-year-old Davends Clerge, from Boynton Beach, FL
18-year-old Garvens Clerge, from Boynton Beach, FL
22-year-old Schneider Joseph, from Lantana, FL
21-year-old Richemond Seraphin, from Lantana, FL
18-year-old William Butler, from Lake Worth, FL
17-year-old Lorendy Sanon, from Boynton Beach, FL
17-year-old Berlinda Saul, from Lake Worth, FL
18-year-old Janeen Gonzalez, from Palm Beach, FL

All of the adult suspects were transferred to the Polk County Jail, while the three kids were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center. According to the PCSO, they were all charged with petty theft and tampering with evidence. The 12 adults were also charged with contributing to the delinquency of a youngster. Schneider Joseph was also charged with violation of probation. Angel Quintero, Pervaysia Laster, and Davends Clerge were also charged with possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia when deputies discovered the drugs in the BMW they were driving.

During the inquiry, another suspect approached the group of theft suspects and began yelling at them not to cooperate or speak with the deputies. Deputies told 18-year-old Jayden Murphy of Pomona Park, Florida, to move away or leave the area so they could complete their investigation. He ignored the repeated verbal warnings and remained within 17 feet of the deputies. He was detained for violating the “Halo Law” and charged with two charges of harassment of first responders and two counts of resisting arrest. Florida’s “Halo law” (FSS 843.31) creates a 25-foot buffer zone around active law enforcement officials, firefighters, and emergency medical professionals. Bystanders who knowingly enter or remain in the buffer area after getting a verbal warning may face a second-degree misdemeanor.