News and Investigations

A man who was recently released from state prison was arrested again by deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

23-year old Stephan Rice IV completed a four-year prison sentence for grand theft motor vehicle and was released on June 12, 2025.

On June 30, 2025, according to a PCSO detective, Rice burglarized a vehicle in Polk City and stole a wallet. A short time later, Rice made a purchase of about $765 on a credit card that was in the stolen wallet. A warrant for Rice's arrest was obtained.

On August 11th, just after midnight, PCSO deputies located Rice at the Circle K store on Commonwealth Avenue in Polk City and arrested him on the warrant without incident.

Rice was taken to the jail on the charges for: Burglary of Conveyance, Grand Theft, Felony Petit Theft, and Unlawful Use of a Person's ID.

Stephan Rice's prior criminal history includes: arrests for grand theft, petit theft, motor vehicle theft, grand theft of a firearm, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, conspiracy to commit burglary, armed burglary of a dwelling, battery on law enforcement, assault on law enforcement, resisting an officer without violence, corruption by threat to public official, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of marijuana.