On Sunday, the 14-year-old boy was taken into custody by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office. On Tampa’s Crestridge Road, deputies were called to report someone breaking into a car. The victim fled when one of them attempted to confront the person at their car, according to the agency.
According to Phil Martello, the sheriff’s office assistant chief of communications, “He ends up breaking into another car when our deputies show up to try and hide from them. “When our deputies try and get close to the suspect he flees again, he’s hopping fences.”
Air support was already present in the region for the sheriff’s office. The culprit is promptly located by them in a canal behind Crestridge Road.
After the suspect is taken into custody, officers discover he is a 14-year-old youngster they have previously apprehended.
“He’s been arrested four times in the last 16 months,” Martello stated. “There’s charges from Grand Theft and he’s in possession of a firearm while he’s doing some of these crimes. So, our team is, he’s no stranger to our team. It’s a time for reflection where it’s like, where did this child go down the wrong path? What’s going on in his personal life? What’s going on with his parents? Are they active? Are they giving him the advice, the support that he needs? This is an opportunity for all parents to talk to their kids. Who are you hanging out with? What are you doing at summer vacation?
According to Martello, the teenager was let go from police custody. How soon before he commits another crime, others would wonder.
“There is still time to turn your life around,” Martello said. “Please take advantage of any resources that you can. You know, think before you’re making these actions, you’re messing with people’s personal life, you’re messing with our community safety.”
For young offenders, Safe & Sound Hillsborough is a useful resource with programs. According to Freddy Barton, the executive director of the group, teenagers frequently believe they have no other options.
“They feel that you know what, everyone’s going to look at me a certain way. So why don’t I act that certain way,” Barton stated. “We talk to our kids, and we bring them in from the first day and say you’re more than the worst thing that you’ve ever done. Understand that you can be better today than you were yesterday.”
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