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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.
Sep 25, 2020
Polk County Sheriff's Office investigates the death of a man found near Mulberry Phosphate Museum Friday
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A Mulberry man was found deceased Friday morning, September 25, 2020, outside the Mulberry Phosphate Museum at 101 1st Street SE in Mulberry and the Polk County Sheriff's Office investigation continues in an effort to determine what led to his death.
At approximately 6:59 a.m., the Emergency Communications Center received a 911 call from a man reporting that he discovered the victim while walking to work.
The victim, 41-year old John McCoy, Jr., was found lying on the sidewalk, at the northwest corner of the museum; he was deceased and had suffered obvious trauma to the head.
"Detectives worked all day Friday, and continue to work in order to determine what happened in the final minutes of his life. At this point in the investigation, we know that Mr. McCoy suffered blunt-force injuries, but we aren't positive how he got them." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Traffic Homicide detectives also examined the scene to investigate the possibility that McCoy had been hit by a passing vehicle.
Detectives spoke with McCoy's sister, with whom he spent some time with the night before. She told detectives that he had been smoking marijuana and appeared to be paranoid when he left.
Anyone with information that may have information about this is urged to call the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200.