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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.
Dec 30, 2021
UPDATE: New details available related to the arrest of 28-year old Raheim Jamaar Johnson, AKA “The Grinch”
Media Contact: Scott Wilder, Director
On December 29th, 2021, Raheim Johnson was located by members of the U.S.
Marshals Service in the jurisdiction of Plant City at the Knight’s Inn (301 S. Frontage Rd, Plant City) and subsequently arrested. The U.S. Marshal’s service was working cooperatively with Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives searching for Johnson.
After he was taken into custody, Johnson made spontaneous statements that he should be taken to the Hillsborough County Jail and that he did not want to go to Polk County. Johnson said that he was upset with Polk County deputies because they kept bothering family members, friends, and acquaintances about where he, Johnson, was. As a result, he said he was about to have to turn himself in because he was out of money and no one would let him stay with them due to his new notoriety because Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives were pressuring people to find him and turn him in. He was upset that he had to rent a motel room because he could not stay with friends or family.
After his arrest, Johnson refused to cooperate with detectives. Detectives have been unable to recover the property and gifts that were stolen prior to Christmas.
Detectives determined that the room at the Knight’s Inn was rented under a false name.
Polk Sheriff’s Charities, Inc., Polk County Toys for Tots, and a local businessman have assisted the victim in this case to help replace gifts and items stolen by Johnson
Raheim Jamaar Johnson (AKA "City” & “The Grinch”) was charged with Burglary of a Residence (F2), Grand Theft (F3), Conspiracy to Commit Burglary (F3), Use of a Two-Way Device (F3), and Criminal Mischief (M2). He was transported to the Polk County Jail yesterday and currently has no bond.
"I’m very disappointed Mr. Johnson did not tell deputies where the gifts are. My guess is he sold them soon after they were stolen. I thank the U.S. Marshals Service for finding this Grinch. For now he’s in jail. We will work hard to make sure he’s held accountable for stealing a family’s Christmas. I’m also very thankful to all those who provided us tips on who Johnson was and where he was. Because of these tips, we kept him on the run, lying low, and hopefully he did not have a chance to steal from innocent citizens while we looked for him." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Here are the previous releases related to this case:
***UPDATE: DECEMBER 23rd***
Our Grinch has been identified by someone who wanted a little extra Christmas cash. His identity is 28-year old Raheim Jamaar Johnson (AKA "City).
An arrest warrant has been obtained for Johnson. Now we just need to find him.
Anybody else interested in a little extra Christmas cash? Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS, and if your information leads to Johnson's arrest, it could be yours.
Social Media Post::
Still looking for the Grinch
PCSO detectives still need your help to find this Grinch who stole Christmas presents and other items from a home in east Lakeland (Crystal Lake area), so we can put in him jail where he belongs. The suspect kicked in the front door of the victim's home sometime after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, December 20th. He ransacked the home and stole wrapped presents for two little girls. He may be driving a 2019 or newer dark colored 4-door Chevrolet Malibu, or similar model.
"This Grinch needs to be caught and held accountable for his criminal actions. Thankfully, detectives are working with Polk Sheriff's Charities and Toys For Tots to ensure these children have a Merry Christmas in spite of this horrible act. Please contact our detectives with any information about this burglary at 863-298-2600, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous and be eligible for a $2,500 cash reward." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
***UPDATE: DECEMBER 23rd***
Our Grinch has been identified by someone who wanted a little extra Christmas cash. His identity is 28-year old Raheim Jamaar Johnson (AKA "City).
An arrest warrant has been obtained for Johnson. Now we just need to find him.
Anybody else interested in a little extra Christmas cash? Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS, and if your information leads to Johnson's arrest, it could be yours.
Social Media Post::
Still looking for the Grinch
PCSO detectives still need your help to find this Grinch who stole Christmas presents and other items from a home in east Lakeland (Crystal Lake area), so we can put in him jail where he belongs. The suspect kicked in the front door of the victim's home sometime after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, December 20th. He ransacked the home and stole wrapped presents for two little girls. He may be driving a 2019 or newer dark colored 4-door Chevrolet Malibu, or similar model.
"This Grinch needs to be caught and held accountable for his criminal actions. Thankfully, detectives are working with Polk Sheriff's Charities and Toys For Tots to ensure these children have a Merry Christmas in spite of this horrible act. Please contact our detectives with any information about this burglary at 863-298-2600, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous and be eligible for a $2,500 cash reward." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
***ORIGINAL RELEASE:
Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives are searching for a suspect who forced his way into the home of a Lakeland family and stole Christmas presents and other items.
According to the initial investigation, the victim left her home early on Monday, December 20, 2021 to meet family members for breakfast. When she returned home around 11:30 a.m., she found her front door forced open and her home ransacked. She also discovered all the wrapped Christmas presents were missing, as well as a company laptop and a flat screen television.
The victim called PCSO immediately to report the burglary, and detectives were able to capture images of the suspect from the home surveillance system.
The suspect may be driving a 2019 or newer dark colored 4-door Chevrolet Malibu.
“This Grinch needs to be caught and held accountable for his criminal actions. Thankfully, detectives are working with Polk Sheriff's Charities to ensure these children have a Merry Christmas in spite of this horrible act. Please contact our detectives with any information about this burglary, or call Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-800-226-TIPS to remain anonymous.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Click here to hear Sheriff Judd's comments on this case: https://tinyurl.com/ztaznd2m
Click here to watch the security video of the suspect: https://tinyurl.com/53x92sw3
