Four people, including a 16-year-old, have been arrested in a Central Florida retail theft operation.
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office arrested four people after they attempted to fraudulently purchase merchandise at the Brandon Town Center near Tampa on March 12th.
HCSO’s Retail Theft Task Force had been conducting undercover surveillance at Dillard’s when they observed four individuals who attempted to use multiple credit cards to buy hundreds of dollars worth of merchandise shortly after 12pm.
When detectives attempted to make contact with the subjects, they fled in a vehicle, crashing into two unmarked HCSO cars. Fortunately, no one was injured at the scene. The four subjects were taken into custody shortly after that.
After searching the vehicle and the subjects, deputies found a Glock 48, fentanyl, and cocaine.
“This scene is a testament to the daily dangers our detectives and deputies face,” said Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister. “The swift arrest of these criminals sends a resounding message that Hillsborough County is not the place for this type of activity.”
The driver of the vehicle, Dameon Mays, 31, is a multiple convicted felon, recently released from Florida State Prison. He was charged with:
- Aggravated Battery on LEO x2
- Resisting an Officer without Violence
- Armed Possession of Cocaine
- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
- Unlawful Possession of Personal Identification of Another – 5 or More
- No Valid Driver’s License
- Felon in Possession of a Firearm
Kendrick Hester, 16, was charged with:
- VOP: Robbery less than $750 x2
- VOP: Resisting an Officer without Violence x2
- VOP: Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance x2
- VOP: Grand Theft Motor Vehicle x2
- VOP: Petit Theft x2
- FTA: Burglary of an Unoccupied Conveyance x3
- FTA: Resisting an Officer without Violence x2
- FTA: Grand Theft-$750 -$5,000
- FTA: Grand Theft Firearm
- FTA: Petit Theft
- FTA: Possession of Controlled Substance
Heather Layton, 34, was charged with:
- Trafficking in Fentanyl
Audley Clarkson, 32, was charged with:
- Resisting an Officer Without Violence
- Possession of a Drug Without a Prescription
This investigation is ongoing, according to local law enforcement.
They all deserve LIFE!