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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.
Oct 16, 2023
PCSO seeking information in road rage-related shooting and attempted murder
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator
The Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating an apparent road rage incident and shooting that occurred just after 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, October 15, 2023, on the I-4 off-ramp to US Hwy 27 in Davenport. The victim, 58-year-old Kevin Berry of Altamonte Springs, was heading to work in Polk County when he was shot by an unknown suspect. He is in grave condition at a local hospital.
Sheriff Grady Judd gave an update on this case and it is posted on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/BZfJve8tZKI
Berry was heading west on I-4 and had just exited when the shooting occurred. One witness who came forward reported seeing a white Dodge truck (Berry's) and a dark-colored two-door car driving around each other aggressively, moving back and forth between lanes on the off-ramp and then stopping. The witness heard both drivers yelling at each other. The witness reported possibly three other vehicles in the area at the time, whose drivers/occupants may have also witnessed the incident. The suspect could have fled south down US Hwy 27 or got back onto the Interstate.
Berry was found on the ground outside his truck parked in the middle lane of the off-ramp.
Detectives are asking anyone who may have seen or heard something between 2:00 and 2:15 a.m. to please contact the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200 and reference case number 23-42221.
***THERE IS A $5,000 CASH REWARD FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS SHOOTING. CONTACT Heartland Crime Stoppers Florida - DOWNLOAD THE P3TIPS MOBILE APP. REMAIN ANONYMOUS. GET CASH***
- CALL 1-800-226 TIPS (8477)
- DIAL **TIPS from your cell phone
- VISIT the website www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com and click on "Submit A Tip,"
- DOWNLOAD the free "P3tips" app on your smartphone or tablet.
You will always remain anonymous and you may be eligible for a cash reward if your information leads to an arrest.