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.

Sep 8, 2016

Sheriff’s Office Detectives Charge Bartow Man with Murder of Jeffrey Morrow Jr.

Media Contact: Donna Wood, PIO

25-year-old Victor Lemond Manns, Jr., Virginia Avenue, Bartow, has been charged with First Degree Murder, Armed Burglary of Conveyance, Robbery with Firearm, Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon, and Unlawful use of Two-Way Communication Device in connection to the shooting death of Jeffrey Morrow Jr. He was arrested during the early morning hours of Thursday, September 08, 2016.

As previously reported: Around 9:45 p.m. on Sunday, September 4, 2016, 21-year-old Marrow, who recently moved to Polk County from Pennsylvania, accompanied his friend, 22-year-old Blake Fitez of Winter Haven, to the Family Dollar located at 1135 South Combee Road in Lakeland, so that Fietez could sell an item he had advertised for sale online. The arrangement was to meet “buyer” in the store parking lot.

When the buyer/suspect arrived, he approached the driver’s side window of Fitez’s vehicle. During the transaction, the suspect grabbed the item then took off running. Both Morrow and Feitez attempted to catch up to the suspect, when the seller heard gunshots. He crouched behind the truck, then looked under it and saw Jeff Morrow laying on the ground. Fietez then ran into the Family Dollar and called 911. Morrow was taken to LRHMC, where he was pronounced deceased.

Through the investigation, detectives learned the Lakeland Police Department was working two similar cases of theft associated with the same online sales application – “Let Go.” The first occurred on Friday, August 26, 2016, and the second occurred on Thursday, September 1, 2016 – just days before Morrow was murdered.

In both cases, the suspect description matched that of the suspect in the shooting. In all three cases the suspect identified himself as “Freddie James,” contacted the sellers via “Let Go,” agreed to meet at a Lakeland area location, and all three times the suspect fled with the property.

Detectives, working around the clock, were ultimately able to positively identity “Freddy James” as Victor Manns.

Manns was located at a residence in Mulberry and was taken into custody without incident. Mann’s is currently being booked into the Polk County Jail. He will have first appearance tomorrow, Friday, September 9, 2016.

Manns' previous criminal arrest history includes 3 previous Petit Theft arrests, 2 VOP arrests, 3 previous Burglary arrests, Battery-Domestic Violence, Disorderly Intoxication, Possession of Cannabis, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.