String Of Burglaries Leads To 304 Total Charges For Three Teen Brothers: Sheriff

POLK COUNTY, FL — Three Lakeland brothers who range from 14 to 18 years old face a total of 304 criminal charges after police said they burglarized numerous cars in the area, a Polk County Sheriff's Office news release said.

Adarius Valdez of Wauchula, 14; Hasachi Thompson of Bartow, 15; and Malachi Thompson of Bartow, 18, were arrested Friday morning on burglary crime spree charges, according to detectives.

Deputies said they found the youths in unincorporated Lakeland after they heard about multiple car burglaries that occurred in that area. K-9 units and a police helicopter saw the youths hiding in a large plant in a person's back yard in the Highland City area, deputies said. They didn't comply with deputies' commands when told to come out but ran off, deputies said.

Adarius and Malachi jumped over a fence and were caught by deputies in another yard, deputies said. Officials stopped Hasachi before he could jump over a fence after he broke free from a deputy, authorities said.

Investigators said Adarius told them he and his brothers met up in Wauchula and put their plan of burglary together before heading over to Highland City area. Three stolen handguns, ammunition, credit/debit, identifications and other items were found on the suspects, detectives said.

Deputies said they searched the suspects and recovered three stolen handguns, ammunition, credit/debit cards, identifications and other stolen items.

"These two out of control juveniles are another prime example of the Department of Juvenile Justice not holding serious juvenile criminals accountable, resulting in more crime and more victims," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "When juveniles are not held appropriately accountable by DJJ, the juveniles believe they can continue to do what they like — their criminal conduct escalates in both number and severity. This makes our communities, citizens, and businesses less safe."

According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, Malachi Thompson faces the following charges:

• Conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary
• Grand theft of a firearm
• Petit theft
• Armed burglary dwelling
• Possession of burglary tools
• Use/display of a firearm during a felony
• Loitering
• Wearing a mask on the property of another
• Resisting a law enforcement officer without violence
• Interference with custody of a minor
• Wearing mask/hood on public property
• Burglary of an unoccupied structure
• Unlawful possession of five or more personal IDs
• Carrying a concealed firearm
• Trespassing
• Contributing to the delinquency of a minor

“Why isn’t this prolific juvenile being taken seriously by DJJ?" Judd said. "Who is keeping tabs on him? What kind of ‘community-based care’ or program is he involved with? Is this care provider or program being held accountable?”

Adarius Valdez faces the following charges, according to Polk detectives:

• Armed burglary of vehicle
• Attempted armed burglary of vehicle
• Conspiracy to commit vehicle burglary
• Grand theft of a firearm
• Petit theft
• Trespassing
• Resisting a law enforcement officer without violence
• Loitering/prowling
• Possession of burglary tools
• Unlawful possession of five or more personal IDs
• Carrying a concealed firearm
• Committing a criminal offense while in possession of a firearm
• Wearing mask/hood on public property
• Wearing a mask on the property of another

"When a juvenile fails to appear in court and runs away from juvenile supervision and there is no consequence, it encourages more criminal behavior," Judd said. "Some of these juvenile offenders are thumbing their nose at the system — there must be appropriate accountability in our juvenile justice system.”

Hasachi Thompson faces the below charges, investigators said:

• Armed burglary of vehicle
• Attempted burglary of vehicle
• Conspiracty to commit vehicle burglary
• Grand theft of a firearm
• Petit theft
• Trespassing
• Resisting a law enforcement officer without violence
• Loitering
• Possession of burglary tools
• Culpable negligence
• Unlawful possession of five or more personal IDs
• Carrying a concealed firearm
• Committing a criminal offense while in possession of a firearm
• Wearing mask/hood on public property
• Wearing a mask on the property of another