News and Investigations

Four teenagers from the Kathleen area of Lakeland were arrested Sunday evening, August 30, 2026, accused of conspiring to commit car burglaries and theft.

Earlier that day, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to the area near Kathleen Road and Raulerson Road, north of Lakeland, after a resident discovered someone had burgled his vehicle and stole a firearm from within. 

A detective learned that four juveniles were witnessed in the area the night before, shining lights into vehicles, then running to a residence nearby. The investigation continued from there, and following a series of interviews, four suspects were identified. 

Two of the suspects reside next to each other, in the near vicinity of the victim. They were identified as 15-year-old Fenton Schofield and 15-year-old Dakarai Fennell. Both also had been arrested for stealing a vehicle on August 22nd in the same area.

The other two suspects were identified as 16-year old Viktor Mullen and 15-year-old Michael Buey. 

The father of Fenton Schofield allowed detectives to search his son's bedroom, and during that search the stolen firearm was found. 

It was also discovered that Schofield and Buey had deleted text messages about their crimes in an effort to hide the information. 

All four were arrested and taken to the Juvenile Assessment Center and charged with Armed Burglary of Conveyance (F1), Grand Theft of a Firearm (F3), Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (F3), and Loitering/Prowling (M2).

Schofield and Buey were also charged with Tampering with Evidence (F3).