A 32-year-old man who was allegedly squatting on a Wildwood property has been arrested after authorities uncovered an extensive illegal golf cart “chop shop” operation and tens of thousands of dollars in stolen goods.
Joshua Wayne Harrell was taken into custody on Wednesday by Sumter County Sheriff’s deputies who were responding to an unrelated call along West Clarke St. in Wildwood.
While on the scene, investigators recognized Harrell as a person of interest in a series of high-value thefts across The Villages and surrounding areas. Deputies also observed multiple golf carts, engines, and various components in plain view near a travel trailer where Harrell had been living for several months.
SCSO detectives obtained a search warrant and later confirmed the property was being used to alter, dismantle, and reassemble stolen vehicles to disguise their identities.
Recovered items included four golf carts in various stages of modification, a Can-Am UTV reported stolen from Wildwood in January, two red Yamaha side-by-sides valued at over $23,000, and various commercial tools such as chainsaws and battery rechargers.
Harrell’s arrest follows a months-long investigation into several thefts.
In one November 2025 incident, Harrell allegedly entered a brand-new Yamaha Concierge rental cart at The Waterfront Inn in The Villages and removed its $5,000 motor. Investigators identified him after his palm print was discovered on the cart’s rear fender.
Police reports indicate Harrell was also linked to an August 2025 burglary of a work truck at The Waterfront Inn, where over $3,700 in Milwaukee brand power tools were stolen. Many of those tools were recovered during the search of the Clarke Street property this week.
Harrell is currently being held at the Sumter County Detention Center on a litany of charges, including operating a chop shop, four counts of burglary, four counts of grand theft, three counts of petit theft, two counts of trespassing, and criminal mischief. Detectives believe the illegal activity spanned several months and involved thefts from multiple locations throughout the county.
Additional charges may be pending as the investigation continues.