POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A trip to a Polk County convenience store ended in a mass arrest on Friday, June 26, 2026, when Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies detained 12 adults and three juveniles at the Davenport Wawa on Old Lake Wilson Road.
According to investigators, the group had been staying together at a local Airbnb while visiting the area from various other counties across Florida.
Store employees alerted authorities after witnessing the individuals walking through the business and concealing bottled drinks and food inside their clothing. Police reports indicate the group arrived at the location in three separate vehicles—a BMW, a Tesla, and a Honda Accord—and all appeared to know one another.
Over a 15-minute period, members of the group allegedly took turns entering and exiting the building, consuming some of the stolen merchandise on-site, and intentionally standing in positions to block the view of store clerks while their accomplices took items.
When deputies arrived, the suspects were still in the parking lot preparing to leave in their vehicles. Law enforcement secured the area, interviewed the individuals, and recovered both unconsumed items and empty containers. All 15 suspects subsequently admitted to taking the items, and deputies retrieved the store’s video surveillance footage, which documented the coordinated effort.
The total value of the stolen merchandise—which consisted of Calypso drinks, Brisk iced tea, a bag of Cheetos, and a package of Ramen soup—amounted to approximately $40.00.
“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.”
A 16th individual, identified as 18-year-old Jayden Murphy of Pomona Park, Florida, was also arrested during the investigation. Investigators stated that Murphy did not know the original group but approached the scene and began shouting at the theft suspects, instructing them not to cooperate or speak with the deputies.
Despite receiving multiple verbal warnings from officers to move away, Murphy remained within 17 feet of the scene. He was arrested for violating Florida’s “Halo Law” (FSS 843.31), which establishes a mandatory 25-foot buffer zone around active law enforcement and emergency personnel. Murphy faces two counts of harassing first responders and two counts of resisting arrest.
The 15 individuals charged in connection with the retail theft are Angel Quintero (19, Winter Springs), Genaiya Saintira (18, Hollywood), Valencia Saul (19, Lantana), Pervaysia Laster (20, Boynton Beach), Shenia Smith (19, Parkland), Lillian Brown (19, Hollywood), Sterllin Hyppolite (18, Lauderdale Lakes), Davends Clerge (21, Boynton Beach), Garvens Clerge (18, Boynton Beach), Schneider Joseph (22, Lantana), Richemond Seraphin (21, Lantana), William Butler (18, Lake Worth), Lorendy Sanon (17, Boynton Beach), Berlinda Saul (17, Lake Worth), and Janeen Gonzalez (18, Palm Beach).
All 12 adult suspects were transported to the Polk County Jail, and the three juveniles were turned over to the Juvenile Assessment Center. Each of the 15 individuals faces charges of second-degree misdemeanor petit theft and third-degree felony tampering with evidence.
The 12 adults were also charged with first-degree misdemeanor contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Additionally, Schneider Joseph faces a misdemeanor charge for a violation of probation, while Angel Quintero, Pervaysia Laster, and Davends Clerge face additional misdemeanor charges for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia after deputies located the substances inside the BMW they occupied.
READ: 1-Star Florida Escape: Police Crash The Pickup After Suspect Orders An Uber to His Hiding Spot
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