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.

Nov 1, 2021

Man illegally in U.S. arrested by PCSO for attempted murder

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

22-year-old Nelson Carpio Garcia, who is in the country illegally, was arrested by PCSO deputies on Saturday, October 30, 2021, and charged with attempted first degree murder after Garcia slashed a coworker with a box cutter then fled on foot in unincorporated Davenport.

Garcia and two other men were working on a home under construction in a new development located on Oak Reflection Loop (nearest cross street – Ernie Caldwell Blvd), when Garcia got into an argument with the victim. According to the witness and the victim, the argument was centered around Garcia drinking on the job. During the argument, Garcia pulled out a box cutter and cut the victim multiple times on his neck and chest – Garcia then fled on foot. The victim was airlifted due to the severity of his injuries. He was treated and released from a local hospital.

Deputies set up a perimeter and searched the area with canine teams and the Aviation Unit. Garcia was located near Bargain Barn Road and US Hwy 17/92. Garcia admitted to “attempting to kill” his coworker after arguing with him. The box cutter was still on him, and the evidence was seized for processing.

A check of Garcia’s criminal history revealed he had been previously arrested on August 29, 2020, for no valid DL, and that he is not a citizen of the United States – at that time, ICE was notified of his arrest and he was released into their custody from the Polk County Jail.

“This is the second time in a year that Garcia, who should not even be in the country, has been arrested. In 2020, we notified ICE when he was booked into our jail and they picked him up. Now he’s back, trying to murder our citizens. Luckily, the victim wasn’t killed and should make a full recovery.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff