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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.
May 26, 2020
Polk County Sheriff’s Office searches for four suspects of robbery in Haines City
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
Four suspects are being sought by detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, after a robbery occurred late Monday evening at a convenience store in Haines City.
Deputies were dispatched to the convenience store in unincorporated Haines City, at around 10:12 p.m., on Monday, May 25, 2020.
As the operator of the store was outside locking up the building for the evening, three males approached him and forced him back into the store and demanded money. A fourth suspect remained outside.
The suspects were able to get cash money from the store and fled east on East Hinson Avenue in a silver sedan.
During the robbery, the victim was struck in the face and on the back of his head, but he did not require medical
attention.
Three of the suspects were described as being black males in their late teens or early twenties and thin. All four wore gloves and dark, hooded sweatshirts.
“The suspects in this robbery didn’t show a gun, but one of them mentioned a gun. They are dangerous; they physically battered the victim who was being cooperative with their demands. Please contact our detectives with any information about this violent crime, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous.”- Grady Judd, Sheriff