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 23, 2021

Avon Park man with extensive criminal history arrested after fleeing from deputies in a stolen truck

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

At around 10:30 p.m. on Monday, November 22, 2021, PCSO deputies located a stolen vehicle at the Shell gas station (2225 Combee Road S) in unincorporated Lakeland. The

vehicle was a silver 2009 Ford F150 reported stolen from Okeechobee County.

The driver, later determined to be 50-year-old Tracy Mercer of Avon Park, was asleep behind the wheel. As deputies attempted to make contact with Mercer, he woke up and fled southbound on Combee Road South before turning North on to US 98 South.

Deputies followed the stolen vehicle at a distance.

Mercer fled the area, turning westbound on Holloway Park Drive where he drove the stolen truck through a chain link fence dragging pieces of the fence behind the truck. Mercer then stuck a barbed wire fence where livestock was held as well as a second chain link fence and gate. Deputies activated their emergency lights and attempted to stop the stolen vehicle.

Mercer then turned southbound on Marion Drive heading back to US 98 South, where he continued to flee from deputies and committed two hit and run crashes when the fence pieces he was dragging struck two vehicles.

As Mercer approached Hancock Avenue Southeast in Highland City on US 98, deputies attempted to stop the stolen truck by using stop sticks which successfully punctured and deflated the front passenger side tire. Mercer did not stop, and continued toward Bartow where he struck another vehicle at the intersection of US 98 and CR 540A.

The Bartow Police Department assisted deputies by blocking traffic at the intersection of US 98 and SR 60 causing Mercer to continue along US 98 and onto Broadway Avenue. As he approached Clower Street, a deputy engaged the stolen vehicle in a PIT (precision immobilization technique) maneuver, successfully stopping Mercer.

No one was injured during this incident.

When deputies apprehended Mercer, he was smoking methamphetamine in a pipe and still had his foot pressed on the accelerator causing the tires to spin. Mercer was taken into custody, arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.

“This career felon’s criminal history speaks for itself. He is a menace to society and obviously has no regard for the public’s safety. We will do everything we can to hold this man accountable for his actions and send him back to prison, away from society, where he belongs.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The following was located during a search of the vehicle:

Over 31 grams of methamphetamine
A stolen license plate
A shotgun
13 rounds of 12 gauge shotgun ammunition
43 rounds of 40 caliber ammunition
Drug paraphernalia

Mercer was transported to the Polk County Jail and charged with:

Leaving the Scene of a Crash (M2) (3 counts)
Knowingly Driving with a Suspended License (M1)
DUO with Property Damage (M1) (3 counts)
DUI (M1)
Fleeing to Elude (F2)
Criminal Mischief (F3)
Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon (F2)
Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F2)
Petit Theft (M1)
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1)
Damaging Fence Containing Animals (F3)
Tampering with Evidence (F3)
Grand Theft Auto (F3)
Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine (FL)

Mercer had a warrant for Violation of State Probation, as well as a warrant for Highlands County for charges of Conspiracy to Traffic in Methamphetamines, Fleeing to Elude, 3 counts of Aggravated Assault on a Law Enforcement Officer, and Harassing a Police Dog. He is currently being held without a bond.

Mercer’s criminal history includes 4 prison incarcerations, 53 felonies, and 24 misdemeanors. Some of his previous charges are:

Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer
Resisting an Officer with Violence
Grand Theft (multiple)
Assault
Domestic Violence Battery
Grand Theft Auto (multiple)
Burglary
Dealing in Stolen Property
Kidnapping/False Imprisonment
Possession of Methamphetamine (multiple)
False Verification to a Pawn Broker
Giving a False ID to a Law Enforcement Officer
Violation of Probation (multiple)
Failure to Appear (multiple)