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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 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.
Mar 5, 2019
Bartow man involved in deadly shooting turns himself into PCSO
Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO
On Monday evening, March 4, 2019, 28-year-old Joshua Jay Pacheco turned himself into the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in connection with the deadly shooting at the Citgo Food Market, located at 4660 Highway 17 North in Bartow Saturday night. He was wanted for two outstanding warrants: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and violation of probation.
Pacheco told detectives he was waiting for her girlfriend to pick him up when an unknown man, 29-year-old Julian Garcia of Apopka, walked over and started attacking him threatening to kill him. Pacheco said they both fell to the ground and he admitted to displaying a handgun. He said the gun went off because Garcia attempted to get the gun once he saw it. Garcia was taken to the hospital where died from a gunshot wound.
After shooting Mr. Garcia, Pacheco fled the scene. He told deputies he was scared due to being on probation and his convicted felon status. He told deputies he later removed his clothes and threw them into a dumpster. Pacheco turned the gun into detectives.
Pacheco was booked into the Polk County Jail charged with Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F-2), Violation of Probation, (M-2), and Tampering with Physical Evidence (F-3). His bond is $50,000.
Investigative findings will be forwarded to the state attorney’s office.