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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.
Feb 14, 2020
Plane crashes in residential area of Bartow
Media Contact: Scott Wilder, Director
At approximately 11:26 am on Thursday, February 13, 2020, a single engine fixed wing land-based plane (1981 Mooney M20J, N1149T) was heading South/Southwest towards Bartow Airport when it crash landed into a residential neighborhood approximately 3/4 mile from the airport. The plane was in communication with the airport and was intending to land. There were no unusual or warning communications from the airplane.
The plane landed in the front driveway of the residence located at 4612 Weston Road in unincorporated Bartow. There were two adults (married) on board the plane--Bonnie Powell, 73, and Dennis Powell, 76, of Port Orange, Florida--they were deceased when Polk County Fire Rescue and Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies arrived.
No one on the ground was injured. There is physical damage to the driveway, an oak tree in the yard, and the front chain-link fence. A window of a vehicle in the neighborhood was shattered when debris from the plane struck it.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is conducting a death investigation and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the plane crash.