Teenager claims he has ‘every right’ to break into car at dealership, cops say

A belligerent 15-year-old Bradenton boy received some adult education on what it means to be a criminal when he and his friends broke into a vehicle at the Autoway Ford dealership in the 5000 block of 14th Street West, Manatee County sheriff’s deputies say.

According to the report, the juveniles broke into the vehicle at 4:28 a.m. on July 25 and deputies made contact with the 15-year-old who was sitting in the front seat.

The 15-year-old was “adamant that he had every right to be at the dealership looking at cars, since he is allegedly in the market to buy a new car,” the report states, though the dealership was closed at that time of day.

The deputy attempted “to educate” the boy about being at a closed business, especially at 4 a.m., but the juvenile said he is, “grown and could do whatever he wanted to do.”

The juvenile further stated that he knows the law and that he has, “right to be sitting in the car since he is thinking about buying it.”

Since the deputy’s attempts to verbally educate the juvenile didn’t appear to be working, the 15-year-old received a real life education in being handcuffed and charged with a felony burglary of a conveyance.

This story was originally published July 29, 2019 at 8:29 AM.