Former deputy no-shows DUI manslaughter trial, warrant issued
TAMPA, Fla. - A judge has issued a warrant for a former Polk County deputy after he failed to appear in a Tampa courtroom to stand trial in a 2022 DUI manslaughter case.
The backstory:
In the early morning hours of April 13, 2022, Tampa police said Joshua Roelofs was driving at about 100 mph on the Courtney Campbell Causeway when he rear-ended a Kia Sorrento with four people inside.
The SUV overturned, investigators said, killing two 44-year-old men: Kristopher Koroly and Ricky Gongora. A 36-year-old man and a 33-year-old woman also suffered critical injuries.
Prosecutors say Joshua Roelofs was under the influence when he caused a crash in 2022, killing two people and injuring two others.
Investigators arrested Roelofs the following month on several charges, including two counts each of vehicular homicide and DUI manslaughter.
Mugshot of Joshua Roelofs from his 2022 arrest. Courtesy: Tampa Police Department.
Jury selection in his trial was set to begin on Monday, but Roelofs was a no-show.
Roelofs previously worked for the Polk County Sheriff's Office but wasn't employed there at the time of the crash.
The sheriff's office says he was a PCSO deputy until 2015, when he was arrested for falsifying his timecard.
What's next:
The judge issued a warrant for Roelofs' arrest and revoked his bond, saying he will reassess where the case stands once Roelofs is in custody.
The Source: This story was written with information from a scheduled court hearing on April 21, 2025, along with previous FOX 13 News reports.
STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA:
- Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV
- Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android
- Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines
- Download the SkyTower Radar app
- Sign up for FOX 13’s daily newsletter