Police: Rock Hill teen caught with lawn equipment stolen from Winthrop

A Rock Hill teen was charged in connection with the theft of lawn equipment from Winthrop University after officers saw him walking down a sidewalk and pushing a garbage can that contained the stolen items, according to Rock Hill Police.

Officers on patrol saw Justin Reid, 18, pushing a garbage can down the sidewalk of Dave Lyle Boulevard about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday, according to a police report. Reid was also wearing a camouflage jacket and carrying a backpack that appeared to be full.

Officers confronted Reid and asked for his ID, which he said he didn’t have, police said. He initially gave them the name “Mikai Davis” and said he was 15. He maintained that was his name even after being asked multiple times, and later gave police his real name at the Rock Hill Law Center.

Reid told officers he was pushing the garbage can from his “homeboy’s” house on Willowbrook Avenue to his mother’s home on South Dave Lyle Boulevard, police said. He gave officers permission to search him, his backpack and the garbage can.

Inside the garbage can, police found a leaf blower, a John Deere filter and a large plastic sheeting, the report states. The blower had Winthrop University emblems on it. Winthrop University police were notified and confirmed the equipment had been stolen from a building on the campus.

Reid told Winthrop police he purchased the items from two men who were part of the “Wheezy Boys” gang, according to a report. He said he knew the items were stolen.

Reid was charged with receiving stolen goods and false information to police. He was placed in the Rock Hill city jail and was released Tuesday on a personal recognizance bond.

This story was originally published July 8, 2015 at 12:09 PM with the headline "Police: Rock Hill teen caught with lawn equipment stolen from Winthrop."