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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 Meghan Petty. 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.
Jan 14, 2016
U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force Arrests Idaho Fugitive
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
On Wednesday, January 13, 2016, The U.S. Marshals Florida Regional Fugitive Task Force (FRFTF) working with the U.S. Marshals Service in Idaho, arrested 32-year-old Gabriel Morales, who had an Idaho warrant for his arrest for Lewd and Lascivious Battery on a Child. The warrant stems from an incident during which Morales sexually molested a male juvenile in Power County, Idaho.
The FRFTF received a request for assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service in Idaho, with information that Morales may be in the Haines City area with a girlfriend. Detectives responded to 3rd Street North in Haines City and observed a suspect matching Morales' description entering into a home with a woman. Detectives made contact with the man and woman, and positively identified Morales. He was taken into custody without incident.
Detectives booked Morales into the Polk County Jail on the Power County (ID) warrant, where he will await extradition back to Idaho. Detectives also determined Morales is not a U.S. citizen and is in the country illegally; the U.S. Marshals Service in Idaho plans to hold Morales for Immigrations and Customs Enforcement.