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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 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 22, 2019
Two men arrested after a laser-light was aimed at a PCSO helicopter
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two men early Thursday morning, August 22, 2019, after one of the men aimed a laser-light into a PCSO helicopter that was flying overhead.
At about 3:55 a.m., the helicopter was flying over Recker Highway in Auburndale when a laser light shined into the cockpit twelve times, including one time where the light directly struck the pilot’s eyes.
“If a pilot is wearing night vision assistance while flying, the laser light gets magnified, and can seriously injure his or her eyes. Aiming lasers at aircraft is reckless and dangerous. Not only does it put the lives of everyone in the aircraft in danger, it also endangers people on the ground should that aircraft crash. Fortunately, our pilot was not injured.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
A flight observer riding in the helicopter was able to see the man who was shining the light and relayed a description and location to patrol units on the ground.
Deputies located the man and his companion at 340 Recker Highway.
33-year-old John Marsh of Auburndale was arrested and charged with Unlawful Use of a Laser Light Device (F3). Marsh also had an active warrant for Violation of Probation for Petit Theft.
Marsh has a prior criminal history consisting of nine felonies and ten misdemeanors to include: Grand Theft, Carjacking, Aggravated Assault, Battery (3), Possession of Methamphetamine (6), Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Paraphernalia (2).
Marsh’s companion, 33-year-old David Dade of Tampa, was arrested on a warrant out of Hillsborough County for Failure to Appear for Possession of Controlled Substance.