Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Polk County Deputy Charged with Manslaughter in DUI Crash

Arrest Warrant Issued for Former Polk County Deputy in Manslaughter Case

Polk County, Florida — An arrest warrant has been issued for Joshua Roelofs, a former deputy sheriff, who failed to appear for his trial on manslaughter charges stemming from a tragic high-speed DUI crash in April 2022. Roelofs, who was charged with two counts of manslaughter, was scheduled to plead guilty or request a trial but vanished before his court date.

On the early morning of April 12, 2022, Roelofs allegedly drove his Nissan GT-R recklessly on the Courtney Campbell Causeway, resulting in a catastrophic collision that killed Kris Koroly and Ricky Gongora, both 44. A third passenger was left with severe, permanent injuries, including a brain injury that required a four-month coma and ongoing assistance.

Initially released on a $19,000 bond, Roelofs has not been seen since his no-show in court. His attorneys, Deborah Barra and Glen Lansky, have since withdrawn from representing him.

Roelofs served as a deputy in Polk County for five years before being terminated in 2015 for allegedly falsifying time records to receive extra pay. Dashcam footage from the night of the crash captured him swerving dangerously before the collision, raising serious concerns about his actions leading up to the incident.

Authorities are now urging anyone with information on Roelofs’ whereabouts to come forward, as he may have connections in Ohio and Michigan. The U.S. Marshals Service has been notified but has not yet commented on the ongoing search.

As the investigation continues, the families of the victims and the surviving passenger await justice in a case that has shocked the local community.