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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.
Sep 5, 2024
16-year old George Jenkins High School student arrested by Polk County Sheriff's Office for threatening a mass-shooting at school
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A student from George Jenkins High School in Lakeland was arrested Thursday morning, September 5, 2024, after deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office became aware of a threat to shoot-up the school.
PCSO deputies were notified of the threat by a Jacksonville detective at about 7:00 am Thursday.
The threat was made to a suicide hotline from a cell phone that was eventually tracked to George Jenkins High School.
PCSO deputies determined the call was made from a phone belonging to 16-year old Orion Isaiah Burts of Lakeland.
The deputies immediately responded to the school and located Burts. A School Resource Deputy checked Burts' cell phone and determined that it was the phone used to make the threatening call. No weapons were found.
"Threatening mass shootings at or against a school and students is serious. Words matter, and Orion Burts is finding that out now. He is facing multiple felony and misdemeanor charges." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Orion Isaiah Burts was arrested and charged with making a false report concerning use of firearms in a violent manner (F2), unlawful use of 2-way communications device (F3), false report of a commission of a crime (M1), and disrupting a school function (M2).