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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.
Sep 27, 2019
Traffic stop leads to arrest of Poinciana man for illegally possessing and concealing a firearm
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
On Thursday, September 26, 2019 at 2:04 P.M., a deputy from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office pulled over a vehicle on Hwy 17 near Hwy 540 in Eagle Lake, after noticing the driver had been driving aggressively.
During the traffic stop, the driver, 20-year-old Jamie Colon of Poinciana, threw a plastic bag out of the passenger window. When asked by the deputy what was inside of the bag, Colon answered, “Weed.”
The deputy asked Colon if there was anything else in the vehicle and he stated that there was a gun in the center console.
A Glock 9mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered from the console and found to be loaded with thirteen rounds of ammunition, and was readily accessible from the driver’s seat. Due to prior felony convictions as a juvenile for burglary and robbery, Colon was not legally permitted to possess a firearm.
Colon was charged with Possession of Firearm by Felon Delinquent (F-2) and Carrying Concealed Firearm (F-3).
“Law enforcement officers conduct hundreds of traffic stops each day in this country, and it’s a situation like this that reinforces the need to always be cautious. A convicted felon with a concealed firearm can sometimes make for a very bad situation.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
A field test on the contents of the discarded bag tested positive for cannabis, and was determined to weigh 83.6 grams. The cannabis will be tested further to determine its THC level.