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.

Jun 27, 2022

Career felon arrested for bank robbery

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested registered career offender 39-year-old Jason Cherry of Lakeland for Robbery with a Mask (F1) today, Monday, June 27, 2022. He robbed the SouthState bank (4719 S, Florida Ave.) in Lakeland last Friday. Cherry is also being charged with previously robbing a bank in the city of Lakeland by the Lakeland Police Department.

On Friday, June 24, at around 10:40 a.m., a man entered SouthState bank and passed a note to one of the tellers demanding money. He told the teller he was armed. The suspect then took the money and fled the bank in a gray Honda Accord. No bank employees were injured and there were no customers in the bank at the time.

PCSO posted the robbery on social media and asked the community’s help to identify the robber. After seeing the PCSO social media post, a citizen contacted the agency with information about the suspect’s identity. Using this new information, detectives identified the robber as Jason Cherry and obtained a warrant for his arrest.

Cherry was arrested this morning, Monday, June 27, at the Tiger Villa Motel (600 New Tampa Highway) in Lakeland. Detectives also located the gray Honda Accord Cherry used following the robbery.

“I am grateful to the citizen who saw something and said something. Because of your willingness to act and the fast work of our detectives, this convicted felon is off the streets. Thankfully no one was hurt, and he will now answer for his crime. Given his criminal history, let’s hope he spends plenty of time in Florida State Prison—enough is enough.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Cherry is currently being held in the Polk County Jail without bond. His prior criminal history includes 21 felonies and 10 misdemeanors for robbery, armed burglary, burglary, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, grand theft of a firearm, aggravated battery with a weapon, aggravated battery of a police officer, aggravated battery of detention staff, child abuse, grand theft, vehicle theft, battery, possession of marijuana, petit theft, and violation of probation. He has twice been incarcerated in state prison.

This investigation is on-going and additional charges are likely.

Cherry has additionally been charged by the Lakeland Police Department for Robbery with a Weapon (F1) and Written Threats to Kill (F2). Please direct inquires about those charges to the Lakeland Police Department.