Arrest and Charges
Polk County, Florida, authorities detained five teenage basketball players along with their coach after an alleged convenience store theft. The incident involved the unauthorized taking of snacks and drinks valued at under $40.
According to investigators, the youths stole items including Doritos, gummies, Starbursts, sausage, lemonade and Slurpees before fleeing the scene. Deputies later recovered three of the teens with the stolen goods hidden in a backpack.
Coach Malik Harvey was arrested on allegations that he misled investigators about the identities of two remaining suspects and arranged an Uber ride to an Airbnb rental without an adult present. He now faces child neglect, resisting without violence, accessory after the fact and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The two unidentified boys were later identified with the assistance of another coach, who is also the mother of one of the players. All five teenagers have been charged with conspiracy to commit retail theft, tampering with evidence, petit theft and a juvenile curfew ordinance violation.