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.

Oct 26, 2021

Guatemalan man illegally in the US arrested for DUI manslaughter after a hit and run crash caused the death of a 5-year-old

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

On Saturday, October 23, 2021 Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested 32-year-old Ernesto Lopez Morales here illegally from Guatemala after a hit and run crash that a killed 5-year-old child.

According to evidence and witness statements, just before 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Morales was driving a 2005 black Chevrolet Suburban west on S.R. 60 in Mulberry at a high rate of speed and with no headlights on. Morales drove his vehicle into the back of a 2016 gray Hyundai Elantra driven by a Plant City woman. The Elantra was pushed more than 600 feet, and both vehicles came to a stop in the eastbound lane facing west near the intersection of Espo Drive, west of Mulberry.

When paramedics arrived on scene, they found the 5-year-old girl deceased. The driver of the Elantra was transported to a local hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Paramedics and other witnesses saw Morales run away from the crash scene before deputies arrived, leaving his Suburban at the scene.

Deputies searched the area and Morales was located in a house where he was residing. Morales told deputies he drank six 32-ounce beers and then left his residence to go buy more. He admitted to not turning on his headlights and fleeing from the crash location. He also told deputies he left the crash because he doesn’t have insurance or a driver’s license.

A search of Morales’ driving history revealed that he does not a valid Florida Driver's license and has never been issued a driver's license in Florida or any other state.

Deputies obtained a warrant for a blood test, which showed Morales had a blood alcohol level of .108 grams of alcohol level of .108 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood. The legal threshold for DUI is 0.08 grams of alcohol per 100 ml of blood.

“Morales has no regard for the law or human life, and we are going to do everything possible to hold him accountable. If he had been in Guatemala and not in the United States illegally, this beautiful little girl would still be alive today.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Morales was arrested for:
• Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving a Death (F1)
• DUI Manslaughter (F2)
• Driving with No Driver’s License Causing Death (F3)
• Leaving the Scene of a Crash Involving Injury (F3)
• DUI Property Damage (M1)

Morales was transported to the Polk County Jail and has a $22,500 bond. Due to Morales residing in the United States illegally, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initiated a hold on him.