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.

Aug 20, 2018

Illegal alien arrested in Polk County for sexual battery on 16-year-old girl

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A 31-year-old man from Mexico was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office Saturday, August 18, 2018, and charged with 20 counts of sexual battery on a 16-year-old girl in Mulberry.

Jesus Ramirez-Velasco told detectives that he knew it was illegal, but he claimed that she was the one who asked for sex from him.

"A crime such as this against a child is heinous; to blame the victim for his behavior is appalling. " - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Ramirez-Velasco was the boyfriend of the girl's mother. The victim told investigators that he first initiated sexual contact with her in mid-December, against her will.

Through the investigation, it was determined that the two had sexual intercourse at least 20 times, and this was corroborated by Ramirez-Velasco.

The Sheriff's Office began investigating over the weekend after the victim came forward and said that Ramirez-Velasco had threatened to harm her mother if she didn't have sex with him again.

Ramirez-Velasco was charged with 20 counts of Sexual Battery of Custodian Victim over 12 (F-1). Aside from his illegal residency in the United States, there is no known prior criminal history for him.

Jesus Ramirez-Velasco was arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in 2008 and deported, but he returned illegally. The Polk County Sheriff's Office notified ICE of Ramirez-Velasco's current arrest and charges.

The investigation is ongoing.