A 15-year-old Ponte Vedra Beach resident was arrested July 23 after allegedly vandalizing a soccer field in the Sawgrass Players Club with a vehicle stolen from a nearby construction site.
According to a report from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office (SJSO), the incident occurred July 22 at around 7:12 p.m., when the teen and a friend allegedly stole a 2015 Bobcat brand utility vehicle from a TPC Sawgrass parking lot located off ATP Tour Boulevard. Driving the vehicle from the construction site to the security gate of the Sawgrass Players Club — of which the teen is a resident — the pair then proceeded to drive the vehicle on a nearby soccer field, tearing up the grass and causing more than $1,000 of damage. After receiving complaints from multiple residents, a Sawgrass security guard attempted to approach the two teens at the scene, at which point they fled in the stolen vehicle and the security guard contacted SJSO.
When eventually stopped at the Sawgrass security gate, the teen was alone in the vehicle. When questioned by the responding SJSO officer, he was uncooperative, claiming the vehicle belonged to a friend but refusing to give more information. When asked for the name of the friend that accompanied him, he remained obstinate, stating that he would not “snitch.”
According to the incident report, the individual was identified by Sawgrass security as the driver of the utility vehicle when it first entered the gate. Further, upon searching the teen, the responding SJSO officer discovered that he was in possession of about 2.3 grams of marijuana. Issuing him a citation for driving without a license, the officer released him into his father’s custody.
The next day, however, it was determined that the stolen vehicle — valued at $10,000 — belonged to J.B. Coxwell Contracting, which had reported two utility vehicles stolen from the TPC Sawgrass parking lot. After the second vehicle was located at 820 A1A N., the teen was transported to SJSO’s northeast field office for further questioning.
Although still evasive in his answers, the teen eventually admitted that he and his friend had been under the influence of marijuana at the construction site in question when they decided to get into a “four-wheeler.” Deciding there was probable cause to believe the teen had stolen the Bobcat, detectives arrested him on charges of property damage totaling $1,000 or more and grand theft of a motor vehicle, as well as a first-degree misdemeanor charge that was redacted from the report. The teen was then transported to the St. Johns County Jail for booking.
The Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that the investigation for this incident has been completed. Representatives for Marsh Landing Management Company, which manages the Sawgrass Players Club, declined to comment.
Editor’s Note: SJSO identified the teen who was arrested, but it is the general practice of the Recorder to not name juveniles charged with crimes.
