area coach, 5 teens arrested after junk food heist at Florida 7-Eleven
Fri, July 24, 2026 at 1:06 PM
UpdatedFri, July 24, 2026 at 4:22 PM
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A Maryland coach and five D.C. teens were arrested after a robbery in Florida. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
WASHINGTON (7News) —A Marylandyouth basketball coach and five teenage boys from the D.C. area are facing several charges after authorities say they conspired to steal snacks and drinks from a 7-Eleven while in Floridafor an AAU tournament
The robbery happened around 4:10 a.m. July 23, at the 7-Eleven on Ronald Reagan Parkway in Davenport, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office
The coach, identified as Malik Abdul Harvey, 27, of Bryans Road, Maryland, was arrested for child neglect, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resisting an officer without violence, and accessory after the fact
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James Hall, 16, Tyjuan Groover, 17, Tavion Hale, 17, Taureon Ferrell, 16, all of DC, and Obai Sheriff, 16, of Lanham, Maryland, are all players in the Run It Up travel basketball program and are coached by Harvey
Each teen faces charges of conspiracy to commit retail theft, tampering with evidence, petit theft, and violating Polk County’s juvenile curfew ordinance
A Maryland coach and five D.C. teens were arrested after a robbery in Florida. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
In a post shared on social media, Sheriff Grady Judd said on the night of July 23, Harvey arranged for the players to take an Uber to another Airbnb while adults traveled separately
According to investigators, the boys arrived before any adults and, around 4 a.m. Friday, walked to a 7-Eleven on Ronald Reagan Boulevard, where they allegedly rushed into the store and stole several things, including Doritos, candy, a Big Mama sausage, lemonade, and Slurpees before dashing out without paying
In all, the stolen junk food cost $37.60, authorities said
7News obtained surveillance video from the sheriff’s office showing the moments the teens ran out of the store after shopping in the convenience store
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7News obtained surveillance video from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office showing the moments the teens allegedly rushed into the convenience store and stole merchandise
Deputies found three of the teens near the entrance to Solterra Resort, where the team was staying for the Puma NXTPro basketball tournament. The resort was less than a mile from the 7-Eleven that had been robbed
Investigators said the stolen snacks had been thrown into a backpack and hidden in nearby bushes. The three boys were taken into custody, but deputies were still trying to find the other two
According to the sheriff, after arresting the boys, they also detained Harvey after learning he was their team’s coach
Harvey was reportedly shown photos of the five teens but denied knowing the last two, who were still on the run
Investigators claimed Harvey initially tried to hide the names and whereabouts of the last two boys. Authorities ultimately found and arrested the remaining teens
Sheriff Judd said Harvey later admitted he lied to protect the boys
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A Maryland coach and five D.C. teens were arrested after a robbery in Florida. (Polk County Sheriff’s Office)
Authorities also noted that Harvey works for Maryland’s Department of Juvenile Services at the Cheltenham Youth Detention Center, and the trip was not work-related
When asked about the status of the charges for the teens, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office told 7News they would like to charge the boys as adults, but the State Attorney’s Office makes that decision
