How Do You Get A Warrant Search Done In Polk County, NC?
I will start by saying that the Polk County Police managed to bust through my assumption of how and when law enforcement agencies access their police blotter and warrant list. I had observed that when a sheriff’s dept has its website, the agency is open to furnishing at least some amount of information about arrest records, if not their complete list of arrest warrants.
On the other hand, I have noticed that you won’t get even a simple arrest report online from offices with a mere web page on the county government’s website. Well, the Office of Polk County Sheriff managed to prove me wrong.
These guys have their website and an impressive one at that, yet they don’t offer a stitch of information that would remotely qualify as criminal court records. You don’t get any details on conducting a criminal check through the agency, let alone their warrants list and arrest log for the day. This, I am sure, has brought you to the all-important question:
How do I go about getting my hands on arrest records from Polk?
First, I will list the old school methods, meaning those that do not involve using your computer. Let us start with the agency that plays an essential role in the lifecycle of a criminal process.
- The Sheriff’s Office: They will tell you if your person of interest is currently being held in their custody. The County Detention Center is conveniently located in the same building as the Sheriff’s Office. So, you won’t have to run around much to find the information you need, as long as you make your way to 40 Ward St, Columbus, NC 28722.
If you seek details on active warrants, expect a few questions to come your way before getting the information you need. I would strongly advise you to call the agency before walking into their office for such an inquiry.
- The Clerk of Superior Court: If you need a formal report to answer your background search, this is the agency that can help you with it. Unlike the police, if you seek help from this office’s personnel, they will charge you for their services. However, since they offer a certified report, I’d say go ahead and pay the $25 for their arrest records. You can get in touch with them by going to the agency office at One Courthouse Square, Columbus, NC 28722, or you can write to them at PO Box 38, Columbus, NC 28722.
Is there any way in which I can access an arrest report or details on arrest warrants online?
If you want details on Polk’s outstanding warrants, you can only get these from a private agency. If discretion is important to you when launching your warrant inquiry, I recommend you take this option. In contrast, there are two ways to access arrest records online:
- The police’s social media page: The Sheriff’s Office’s Facebook posts often have details on cold cases and suspects on the run. Although this information is not posted too often, what is available can be used to compile a small list of most wanted persons and police reports of dangerous criminal incidents. The FB page of the Sheriff’s Office is available on https://www.facebook.com/PolkCountyNCSheriffsOffice/.
Statewide offender search: This is a facility offered by the NC Department of Public Safety. The search tool at http://webapps6.doc.state.nc.us/opi/offendersearch.do?method=view will help you find information on all people serving time in state prisons as well as those who have been released on parole or after completing their sentences.
Who should you be calling for details about Polk County warrants and recent arrests? (Updated in 2021)
- Contact the Polk County Jail at (828) 894-3001, option-4 in order to know about recent arrests.
- Reach out to the Sheriff’s Office at (828) 894-3001, option-3 for arrest records and incident reports.
- Contact the Magistrate’s Court at (828) 894-8119 in order to obtain information on outstanding warrants.
- Reach out to the Polk District Attorney’s Office at (828) 894-4910 for victim’s assistance.
- Contact the Clerk of Court at (828) 894-4900 for information on how to begin a criminal case search.
Crime statistics of Polk County
Almost 215 criminal complaints were filed by the Polk County Sheriff’s Department in 2018. The figure included 207 property offenses and 7 crimes against people. The following crimes were reported:
- 123 larceny thefts
- 69 burglaries
- 15 motor vehicle thefts
- 6 aggravated assaults