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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.
Dec 7, 2018
Polk County Sheriff's Office arrests Haines City man after he intentionally rammed a stolen truck through a fence at Northeast Regional Park
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
An alert deputy with the Polk County Sheriff's Office spotted a suspicious vehicle early Thursday morning, December 6, 2018, which eventually led to the arrest of 34-year-old Christopher Cordell of 628 Langston Avenue in Haines City.
The deputy spotted a Chevy pickup at around 2:58 A.M., on a dead-end road near Citrus Ridge Academy school in Davenport and approached it. Cordell, who was in the truck, immediately fled the scene, and ran through a red light as he drove north on US Hwy 27.
As the deputy was trying to catch up to Cordell, he saw the truck abruptly turn into Northeast Regional Park.
With the deputy blocking the only way out of the park, Cordell rammed a fence, but the truck became stuck, and Cordell fled on foot. Additional deputies and a K-9 unit responded to the scene.
When Cordell saw the K-9, he quickly surrendered. He was found to be in possession of a switch-blade knife and methamphetamines. The truck had been reported stolen out of Osceola County.
"There is a hope that when someone goes to prison, that person will have time to think and make the decision to change their ways to stay out of trouble. This guy obviously hasn't done that on any of his five stays. Maybe a sixth, much longer stay will do the trick." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Cordell was arrested and charged with: Aggravated Fleeing or Eluding (F2), Possession of Concealed Weapon (F2), Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3), Possessing a Weapon While Engaged in a Crime (F3), Felony Criminal Mischief (F3), Possession of Methamphetamine (F3), Felony DWLSR (F3), Resisting (M1), Possession of Paraphernalia Container (M1), Possession of Paraphernalia Device (M1), and Possess Narcotic Paraphernalia (M1).
Cordell's prior criminal history includes 34 felony and 20 misdemeanor charges, has been convicted of 16 felonies and 10 misdemeanors, and has been to prison five times. His most recent stay in prison ended in February of 2018.
