Tampa, FL – August 20, 2025 — A former Polk County Sheriff’s Deputy, Joshua Roelofs, 36, of Mulberry, has been apprehended in Colombia and returned to Tampa to face felony charges, including two counts of DUI manslaughter, following a high-speed crash on the Courtney Campbell Causeway that killed two people in 2022. The Tampa Police Department, in collaboration with the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Unit, announced the arrest on Wednesday.
The fatal crash occurred at approximately 3:42 a.m. on April 13, 2022, when Roelofs, driving a 2017 Nissan GT-R at an estimated speed of 100 mph, rear-ended a 2005 Kia Sorrento. The impact caused the Kia to flip multiple times, ejecting all four occupants. Two 44-year-old men were pronounced dead at the scene, while a 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman were transported to an area hospital with serious injuries. Roelofs, who was hired as a deputy with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office in 2010 and dismissed in 2015, marked “not eligible for rehire,” now faces charges including two counts of DUI manslaughter.
After failing to appear in court, Roelofs fled the country, triggering an international manhunt. Tampa Police investigators tracked his movements and determined he had escaped to Colombia. “This arrest is a significant step toward justice for the victims of this tragic crash,” said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. “It sends a clear message that the Tampa Police Department will tirelessly pursue justice, no matter how far a fugitive runs.”
On August 11, the U.S. Marshals Task Force provided critical intelligence to Colombian authorities, locating Roelofs at the Finca Rivendell Paradise Girardota hotel in Antioquia, Colombia. Colombian officials swiftly took him into custody without incident. On the evening of August 19, Roelofs was escorted by Colombian authorities to Miami International Airport, where Tampa Police’s Fugitive Apprehension Unit took custody. He was then transported to Orient Road Jail, where he is currently held without bond.
The Tampa Police Department highlighted the success of the operation as a testament to strong law enforcement partnerships. The investigation remains ongoing, with further details pending as legal proceedings continue. Nothing further at this time.
Source: Tampa Police Dept., Polk County Sheriff’s Office PIO, and Arrest Affidavit
