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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.
Nov 1, 2018
Domestic disturbance in Mulberry ends in suicide
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
For the second time in less than 14-hours, the Polk County Sheriff's Office is investigating a suicide related to a domestic disturbance. Thursday morning, November 1, 2018, at around 7:30 A.M., children were arriving at Mulberry Senior High School, when the School Resource Deputy heard what sounded like a gunshot off campus.
The deputy immediately alerted the principal to place the school on lockdown, and ran toward the sound, where he saw a man and woman struggling with each other outside the residence at 1210 NE 4th Street in Mulberry. The deputy witnessed the man shoot himself.
48-year-old Julio Serrano Jr., from 1724 Mahaffey Circle in Lakeland, was pronounced dead at the scene. His ex-wife, 50-year-old Maria Millan, who resides at the Mulberry address, had minor injuries from the struggle.
According to Millan, she walked out of her house to go to work, when she was confronted by Serrano, who was armed with a .357 Magnum revolver. Serrano grabbed her, and the two struggled, causing Serrano to drop the gun. Millan said she picked up the gun and fired it into the air, hoping to get someone's attention. Serrano regained control of the gun as a passing motorist stopped and asked if Millan needed help. Serrano then shot himself in the head.
"Domestic violence is a horrible crime, and what we have seen twice this week, are the unfortunate extreme results. If you are currently in a really bad or violent relationship, please, learn from this. There is help available."- Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Mulberry Senior High School was placed on lockdown for a short time, until it was determined that the shooting was unrelated to the school.
The deputy immediately alerted the principal to place the school on lockdown, and ran toward the sound, where he saw a man and woman struggling with each other outside the residence at 1210 NE 4th Street in Mulberry. The deputy witnessed the man shoot himself.
48-year-old Julio Serrano Jr., from 1724 Mahaffey Circle in Lakeland, was pronounced dead at the scene. His ex-wife, 50-year-old Maria Millan, who resides at the Mulberry address, had minor injuries from the struggle.
According to Millan, she walked out of her house to go to work, when she was confronted by Serrano, who was armed with a .357 Magnum revolver. Serrano grabbed her, and the two struggled, causing Serrano to drop the gun. Millan said she picked up the gun and fired it into the air, hoping to get someone's attention. Serrano regained control of the gun as a passing motorist stopped and asked if Millan needed help. Serrano then shot himself in the head.
"Domestic violence is a horrible crime, and what we have seen twice this week, are the unfortunate extreme results. If you are currently in a really bad or violent relationship, please, learn from this. There is help available."- Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Mulberry Senior High School was placed on lockdown for a short time, until it was determined that the shooting was unrelated to the school.