Teen accused of trying to steal Blake Bortles’ truck, trespassing in Brandon Linder’s home

Jacksonville, FL — A Fletcher High School student has been arrested after rummaging through Jacksonville Jaguars’ Quarterback Blake Bortles’ truck and entering the home of offensive lineman Brandon Linder without invitation.

The arrest report for 18-year-old Joseph Horton says video surveillance at Linder’s home on Hopson Road shows Horton walking up the driveway and getting in to Bortles’ truck. Bortles told police the vehicle was unlocked and had the keys inside, according to the incident report. He also left his wallet inside, with the arrest report saying Horton looked through it, although he didn’t take anything.

Police say Horton turned on the truck’s engine, moved it back and forth a little, and looked around- as if trying to figure out how to get the truck out of the crowded driveway. Eventually, he abandoned it, and went in to the home itself.

The arrest report says at one point Linder asked Horton who he was, but didn’t think much about it because there was a “large number of people” in the home. Later on, Linder and another person found Horton walking upstairs, at which point they contacted police, according to the arrest report.

When Jacksonville Beach Police arrived, they found Bortles, Linder, and offensive lineman Chris Reed all standing with Horton.

The arrest report says Horton claimed he went in to the home to look for an ex-girlfriend, but he couldn’t say why he was looking for her or why he got in Bortles’ truck. Nobody in the home knew Horton or the name he gave as his ex-girlfriend. The arrest report lists Hortons’ home as a different location on the same street as Linder, Hopson Road.

Horton is charged with burglary, motor vehicle theft, and trespassing.