Three Teenagers Arrested After Joyriding Heavy Equipment at Kissimmee Construction Site

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — An early morning break-in at a Kissimmee construction site ended in the arrests of three teenagers who were caught on camera joyriding heavy construction equipment. The Osceola County Sheriff’s Office apprehended the suspects after a helicopter tracking unit spotted them operating forklifts and a scissor lift on the property.

Deputies Alerted to Early Morning Intrusion

The incident unfolded at approximately 4:00 a.m. on August 22, 2025, at a commercial construction site located along Old Lake Wilson Road in Kissimmee. Deputies responded to a security alarm indicating unauthorized individuals on the property. Due to the size of the site, the Sheriff’s Office dispatched its aviation unit to assist ground deputies.

Helicopter Footage Captures Heavy Machinery Joyride

Airborne deputies utilized thermal imaging and night-vision cameras to scan the construction site. The flight crew observed three individuals actively operating heavy machinery. According to sheriff's reports, the teens were driving two large forklifts and a scissor lift around the site, maneuvering them across the dirt lot.

When ground units moved in to surround the perimeter, the three suspects abandoned the machinery and attempted to flee on foot into the dark. However, the aviation crew tracked their movements through the brush and guided canine and ground deputies directly to their location, leading to a swift arrest.

Identifications and Charges

The joyride resulted in approximately $5,000 in property damage to the construction equipment. The suspects arrested were identified as a 15-year-old, a 17-year-old, and 18-year-old Shane Morrison. All three face multiple charges, including:

• Burglary to a structure
• Trespassing on a posted construction site
• Felony criminal mischief
• Resisting an officer without violence

Following arrest procedures, the two juvenile suspects were transported to the Orange County Juvenile Assessment Center, while Morrison was booked into the Osceola County Jail.