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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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.
The Polk County Sheriff's Office captured an Orlando man Thursday night, September 25, 2025, after he fled from deputies in a stolen car.
Deputies spotted the stolen 2021 Kia Forte driving west on I-4 in Polk County near Champions Gate at around 10:30 pm.
The Kia had been reported stolen on September 24th out of Orlando.
Additional deputies were notified, including Aviation.
A traffic stop was attempted on the stolen Kia on the Polk Parkway, south of (4, but the vehicle accelerated to about 120 mph in an attempt to flee.
The Aviation unit in the PCSO helicopter took over, and notified the patrol units who were waiting down the road, ahead of the Kia.
As the Kia arrived at the area of the Polk Parkway and Winter Lake Road, stop sticks were successfully deployed. This caused damages to the passenger-side tires of the Kia but the driver continued his attempt to flee in the vehicle.
A deputy then successfully performed a PIT maneuver on the Kia, and caused it to be disabled.
The driver was quickly taken into custody.
26-year old Tyrese Marshall of Orlando was and taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center where he was charged with: Grand Theft Motor Vehicle, Fleeing to Elude, and Driving While License Suspended/Revoked.