Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200
If in an emergency Dial 911
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.
Aug 13, 2018
Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives arrest two teen armed robbery suspects
Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO
On Saturday, August 11, 2018, at approximately 6:00 pm, PCSO responded to an armed robbery on Avenue A East and 7th Street in Wahneta, Florida.
The victim, a man in his forties, told deputies he was walking down the street when two men got out of their car, demanded money and stole his wallet. One of the men threatened the victim with a black rifle before they took off in a red four-door sedan. Another witness did get the tag number from the vehicle.
On Sunday, August 12, 2018, deputies found the matching vehicle parked at a home on 3rd Street West in Wahneta, Florida. They also found 16-year-old Steven Alberto Ramos at that location. They then searched his car and found a BB handgun and an air rifle, which matched the description of the weapon provided by the robbery victim. Ramos was arrested and charged with armed robbery with a firearm.
Ramos also admitted to deputies he and 17-year-old Jessie Cisneros both robbed the victim and also committed two additional robberies in the Wahneta area earlier on Sunday. Deputies obtained a warrant for Cisneros' arrest, and he was taken into custody on Tuesday, August 14, 2018.
Cisneros has an extensive criminal history, which includes armed robbery and grand theft. Ramos was also previously arrested for battery.