News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Alicia Manautou. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org.

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Jan 13, 2018

Poinciana Teen charged with DUI after crash resulting in serious bodily injury and subsequent blood analysis

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrested 17-year old Jonathan Morales of Poinciana on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, for DUI with serious bodily injury and reckless driving, following a six-month investigation of his traffic crash on Lake Hatchineha Road, Haines City. As a result of the crash, Morales' 17-year-old passenger sustained serious spine and brain injuries. The charges are a result of Morales being found to be under the influence of THC. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical in marijuana.

The crash occurred on June 2, 2017. According to the investigation, 17-year-old Jonathan Morales of Drum Ct, Kissimmee, was driving a red 2001 Toyota Tacoma Truck, westbound on Lake Hatchineha Road. He passed a Polk County School bus in a no-passing zone, in the rain, at more than 100 mph. Morales then lost control of his vehicle, and crashed into a concrete pole.

Morales suffered minor injuries, however his passenger, Nathaniel Romeus, of Rock Place, Kissimmee, suffered brain injury and a fractured vertebrae. Romeus spent two months in the hospital receiving treatment.

Detectives established probable cause to obtain a search warrant for samples of Morales' blood which had been taken at the hospital following the crash. The blood samples were sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), and tested. The results of those tests indicated that Morales had cannabis in his system, including: Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 4.6 ± 1.7 ng/mL (k = 3, 99.7%), 11-OH-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 1.5 ± 0.4 ng/mL (k = 3, 99.7%) and 11-Nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, 43 ± 12 ng/mL (k = 3, 99.7%).

The results were forwarded to the University of Florida where a toxicologist determined that the sample results, coupled with his driving patterns, were a level that would impair Morales' normal faculties.

"This tragic crash should not have happened and was 100% preventable. Jonathan Morales was intoxicated and should not have been behind the wheel. We don't tolerate drugged driving. Our detectives have done an outstanding job making sure that accountability for this crash has been determined. Our thanks go to the FDLE lab and University of Florida staff. Their expertise was key to the investigation." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

On Wednesday, January 10, 2018, Johnathan Morales was located at his residence, placed under arrest, and transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow.