'Kids Killing Kids': Polk County Sheriff's Office Takes Down Violent Gang Members

Suspect mugshotsPhoto byPolk County Sheriff's Office press release

The Polk County Sheriff's Office, alongside the Violent Gang Investigative Task Force (VGITF), has arrested 19 gang members linked to drive-by shootings, felony offenses, and a fatal stabbing. These gang members were responsible for violent inter-gang conflicts across Winter Haven, Haines City, and the Waverly area.

"The bad blood between these gangs stems in part, from a desire to 'show off' on social media, and an apparent need for notoriety from their peers. They create rap songs, bragging about the crimes that they commit and share them amongst each other," the official press release notes, in part.

Several gang members with extensive criminal histories were arrested, including:

• Courtney Brown (21): Charged with directing gang activities. Brown's history includes possession of a weapon on school property and carrying a concealed weapon.
• Teville Burgess (19): Arrested for a probation violation and previously charged with carrying a concealed weapon and vehicle theft.
• Jonathon Scarvers Jr. (20): Charged with 13 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder and 2 counts of shooting into an occupied dwelling. Scarvers’ past includes weapons charges and possession of a controlled substance.
• Alejandro Mercedes (16): Facing 14 counts of attempted 1st-degree murder, Mercedes has a history of vehicle theft, burglary, and discharging a weapon.

Violent incidents began with the May 2021 murder of Dyreon Outsey, leading to retaliatory drive-by shootings. In January 2023, two young girls, ages 12 and 14, were injured in another drive-by shooting. In November 2023, a stabbing at Publix left 16-year-old Demetrius Alexis dead.

"This is kids killing kids, and we're not going to accept that," said Sheriff Grady Judd in the official press release.

This operation follows other efforts like Operation Hot Wire and Operation Gangs & Guns, continuing the fight against gang activity in Polk County.

Formed in February 2023, VGITF is a multi-agency initiative designed to disrupt and dismantle gang operations. Since its inception, the task force has arrested 144 gang members and associates, recovered 57 firearms, and seen a 30% reduction in gang-related shootings.

The full press release can be viewed here.