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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.

Jan 13, 2026

PCSO arrests man for firing gun in a Fort Meade crowd, "to make fireworks"

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

Early Sunday, January 11, 2026, at around 1:42 am, PCSO deputies received multiple calls about a large gathering of people at Seminole Avenue South and Dr. MLK, Jr. Street SW in Fort Meade.

Deputies arrived and ordered for the crowd to leave the area and get off of the roadways.

51-year old Christopher Oniel Smith of Plant City began discharging a firearm while standing about 50-75 feet away from a PCSO sergeant inside of a patrol vehicle.

The sergeant immediately accelerated toward Smith.

Despite running from the sergeant, Smith was caught, and a Glock 43X handgun was recovered from the scene.

Christopher Smith told deputies that he was intoxicated and he was just firing the gun, "to make fireworks."

Smith is on Felony Probation for Attempted 1st Degree Murder (he was convicted in 1996 and served 14 1/2 years in prison).

Christopher Smith was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office and taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center and charged with: Possession of a Firearm by Convicted Felon (F1), Possession of Ammunition by Convicted Felon (F2), Tampering with Evidence (F3), Improper Exhibition of a Firearm (M1), Discharging a Firearm in Public (M1), Resisting without Violence (M1), and Use of Firearm Under the Influence of Alcohol (M2).