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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 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.
Mar 27, 2026
PCSO and Bartow PD conducting an investigation of a violent death in Bartow
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
Homicide detectives and the Forensics Investigations Unit from the Polk County Sheriff's Office are assisting the Bartow Police Department in a death investigation.
Bartow Police were dispatched Thursday night, March 26, 2026 at around 11:20 pm to an apartment complex at 1430 North Wilson Avenue in Bartow, on the report of an injured person.
Bartow officers arrived and began life-saving measures on the victim. He was transported to a local hospital, but he succumbed to his injury.
The victim was identified as 56-year old Jeffrey Lee Blevins, a resident at the apartment complex.
According to the investigation so far, Blevins had been outside of the apartment talking to his mother on the phone when something happened and he stopped responding to her. The mother then called her daughter, who resides with Blevins.
The sister found Blevins outside in a pool of blood and immediately called Bartow Police.
"At this time, we're not releasing a lot of details about what occurred. I will say that this was a violent death. If anyone has information that could help in this investigation, please contact either the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the Bartow Police Department, or Heartland Crimes Stoppers." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Tips can be made to the Polk County Sheriff's Office at 863-298-6200, Bartow Police Department at (863) 534-0100, and Heartland Crime Stoppers at 1-888-400-TIPS.
Sheriff Grady Judd and Chief Stephen Walker spoke about the investigation from the scene Friday morning. The video can be viewed on the PCSO YouTube channel here.