Florida sheriff’s office offers to 'escort' wanted suspects seeking haven from Irma 'to the safe and secure shelter called the Polk County Jail'

As Hurricane Irma heads toward Florida, the official Polk County Sheriff Twitter account on Wednesday sent out a stark warning to people who might be seeking shelter from the Category 5 storm:
Aside from putting people with a warrant out for their arrest in the position of choosing between safety and jail, the Florida county sheriff's office also advised that law enforcement officers would be checking IDs before admitting people to shelters. "Sex offenders/predators will not be allowed," the Polk County Sheriff's Office tweeted.
Irma made landfall in the Caribbean on Wednesday morning, packing winds of up to 185 miles per hour and marking the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever recorded. President Trump has declared a state of emergency in Florida, where Irma is expected to hit Sunday.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Today's political cartoons - April 20, 2025
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - Pam Bondi, retirement planning, and more
By The Week US
-
5 heavy-handed cartoons about ICE and deportation
Cartoons Artists take on international students, the Supreme Court, and more
By The Week US
-
Exploring the three great gardens of Japan
The Week Recommends Beautiful gardens are 'the stuff of Japanese landscape legends'
By The Week UK
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber, The Week US
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditions
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billion
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on record
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homes
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia, The Week US
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creature
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans