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| 16 Arrested After Alleged Coordinated Wawa Theft Spree in Davenport; Another Arrested Under Florida's Halo Law |
By Ciara Perez | Senior Multimedia Correspondent
iSkyNews.com | Published June 29, 2026
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DAVENPORT, Fla. — What started as a quick stop for snacks at a Davenport Wawa ended with a parking lot full of patrol cars, 16 arrests, and a lesson that "free samples" don't apply to convenience stores.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, deputies arrested 12 adults and three juveniles on Friday, June 26, after investigators say the group coordinated a retail theft at the Wawa on Old Lake Wilson Road. The suspects, who deputies say were staying together at a local Airbnb while visiting Polk County from other parts of Florida, allegedly worked as a team to steal food and drinks from the store.
Sheriff Grady Judd didn't mince words about the incident.
"This is a classic case of people who came to our county, fooled around, and found out. 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."
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Employees Spot Coordinated Theft
According to investigators, Wawa employees noticed members of the group entering and exiting the store over roughly 15 minutes while concealing drinks and food inside their clothing.
Deputies say some suspects distracted store employees by blocking their view while others allegedly pocketed merchandise. Others reportedly consumed the stolen snacks and drinks before ever making it back outside.
The group arrived in three vehicles — a BMW, a Tesla, and a Honda Accord — and was still gathered in the parking lot preparing to leave when deputies arrived.
Employees provided detailed suspect descriptions, allowing deputies to quickly identify and detain the group.
Investigators recovered surveillance video, along with unconsumed stolen merchandise and empty food wrappers and drink bottles. According to the Sheriff's Office, all of the suspects admitted to taking the items.
Ironically, investigators say the alleged crime spree centered around approximately $40 worth of merchandise, including:
- Calypso drinks
- Brisk iced tea
- A bag of Cheetos
- One package of ramen noodles
It may have been one of the most expensive $40 snack runs imaginable.
Unexpected Arrest During the Investigation
While deputies were interviewing suspects, another man—who investigators say did not appear to know anyone involved in the theft investigation—walked into the scene and allegedly began yelling at the detained suspects, encouraging them not to cooperate with deputies.
According to the Sheriff's Office, 18-year-old Jayden Murphy of Pomona Park repeatedly ignored commands to leave the area and remained within approximately 17 feet of deputies despite multiple verbal warnings.
Murphy was arrested under Florida's Halo Law (Florida Statute 843.31), which establishes a 25-foot safety buffer around active law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel. Individuals who intentionally remain inside that buffer after receiving a warning may face criminal charges.
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| 16 Arrested After Alleged Coordinated Wawa Theft Spree in Davenport; Another Arrested Under Florida's Halo Law |
Murphy was charged with:
- Two counts of Harassing First Responders
- Two counts of Resisting Arrest
Charges Filed
The 15 retail theft suspects were each charged with:
- Petit Theft (Second-Degree Misdemeanor)
- Tampering with Evidence (Third-Degree Felony)
The 12 adult suspects were also charged with:
- Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor (First-Degree Misdemeanor)
Additionally:
- Schneider Joseph was charged with Violation of Probation.
- Angel Quintero, Pervaysia Laster, and Davends Clerge each face additional charges of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after deputies reportedly located marijuana inside the BMW they occupied.
The adult suspects were booked into the Polk County Jail, while the three juveniles were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center.
While convenience store snack runs are usually measured in minutes, this one may be remembered for considerably longer—especially by the group who allegedly turned a handful of drinks, chips, and ramen into a stack of criminal charges.
All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
Source: Polk County Sheriff’s Office sent directly to iSkyNews.com
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