Arrests in Florida 7-Eleven Heist
A Maryland youth basketball coach and five teenage players were taken into custody early on July 23 after allegedly raiding a 7‑Eleven in Davenport, Florida, and making off with snacks and drinks valued at $37.60.
The suspects — identified as James Hall, Tyjuan Groover, Tavion Hale, Taureon Ferrell and Obai Sheriff — faced a slew of charges including conspiracy to commit retail theft, tampering with evidence, petit theft and violation of Polk County’s juvenile curfew ordinance. Coach Malik Abdul Harvey was charged with child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resisting an officer without violence and accessory after the fact.
Charges and Legal Context
Investigators say the group arrived before any adult chaperones, rushed into the convenience store, and concealed the stolen items in a backpack that was later hidden in nearby bushes. Deputy records show the teens were found near the entrance to Solterra Resort, the venue for the Puma NXTPro basketball tournament.
Harvey, who works for Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, initially denied knowing two of the youths but later admitted he had lied to protect them. He had arranged for the players to travel by Uber to a separate Airbnb while the remaining adults stayed elsewhere.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office has expressed a desire to prosecute the boys as adults, though state prosecutors retain the final say. The incident underscores the intersection of youth sports travel, curfew enforcement and juvenile justice policy.