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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.
Feb 22, 2018
PCSO Detectives add 40 additional child pornography charges to former Elite World Gymnastics coach
Media Contact: Michele Cash, PIO
On Wednesday, February 21, 2018, Polk County Sheriff's Office computer crimes detectives added 40 counts of enhanced possession of child pornography charges to former Elite World Gymnastics coach, 21-year-old Alexander Katchalov, who was arrested on Tuesday, January 30, 2018, for 22 counts of possession of child pornography.
According to the arrest affidavit, detectives completed an investigation of Katchalov's electronic devices and private drop box account and found 10 additional videos depicting child pornography. One video depicted over 30 different scenes with victims as young as two-years-old being graphically sexually battered by adults, including sexual penetration and sex acts with adults and other children, and videos graphically exposing children in a lewd manner.
Katchalov is scheduled for first appearance hearing today, February 22, 2018, as a standard protocol, for the additional 40 counts of possession of child pornography.
"Thankfully, during our investigation we have not determined there to be any local victims. However, if there are any local children who had regular contact with Katchalov and who have experienced any inappropriate contact from Katchalov, we want parents to call us if they believe their child is a victim. Katchalov was in possession of and regularly watched horrible, graphic, and sexually deviant child pornography and I am thankful for our detectives who did an outstanding job thoroughly searching his electronic devices and accounts." - Grady Judd Sheriff