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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 Alicia Manautou. 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 21, 2017
PCSO Deputies arrest Winter Haven man in shooting of woman at gas station
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
On Wednesday evening, December 20, 2017, PCSO deputies arrested 18-year-old Jahmari McCray for attempted murder and other charges in the shooting of a 62-year-old Winter Haven woman.
At approximately 5:15 a.m. on Sunday, December 10, 2017, a 62-year-old Winter Haven woman was shot one time when she was sitting in her car at the Circle K store located at 1108 Spirit Lake Road in Winter Haven. No robbery occurred, and the suspect fled on foot.
The suspect was described as a young black male in his early 20s wearing a black hoodie with white lettering, and black pants. Through tips from the community, he was positively identified as Jahmari McCray, with ties to Winter Haven and Bartow. Detectives obtained a warrant for his arrest for attempted murder, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, discharging a firearm in public, and four counts of VOP. Deputies learned that McCray was placed on probation in October 2017, and had an ankle monitor attached. On December 5, 2017, McCray cut off the ankle monitor and had a VOP warrant issued for his arrest at that time.
On Tuesday, December 19, 2017, information about McCray and his prior mugshot was sent out to the media and posted to social media. On Wednesday, December 20, 2017, during the evening hours, McCray was located in the Gordonville area of Bartow thanks to an anonymous tip from the community. He was taken into custody peacefully. Thanks to another anonymous tip from the community, deputies recovered the gun that McCray used.
McCray was taken to the Polk County Jail on his warrant, and deputies filed additional charges of possession of an altered firearm (the serial number was scratched off), and attempted armed robbery.