Polk County, N.C. Sheriff's Office

Polk County, N.C. Sheriff's Office Welcome to the Offical page of the Polk County, NC Sheriff's Office Polk County is named after William Polk, a colonel in the Revolutionary War.

Located in the foothills of western North Carolina lies Polk County, with a population of just over 20,000 citizens.

Polk County was formed in 1855 from parts of Henderson County (to the west) and Rutherford County (to the east). The county encompasses 239 square miles and ranges in elevation from just under 800 feet (above sea level) to just over 3,200 feet on Tryon Peak. Polk County is home to

three municipalities - Tryon, Columbus, and Saluda. Columbus serves as the county seat for Polk County. There are three additional townships - Cooper's Gap (the Sunny View and Mill Spring area), Green Creek, and White Oak (covering parts of Columbus and Mill Spring). The interchange for I-26 and the U.S. 74 highway is located in Columbus. Interstate 26 provides Polk County with easy access to the cities of Johnson City, Tennessee and Asheville, North Carolina to the north, and Spartanburg, South Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; and the port of Charleston, South Carolina to the southeast. Interstate 26 junctions with the major Interstates of I-85 and I-40 are within a half-hour and forty minutes, respectively. East on U.S. 74 goes to Charlotte, North Carolina, and eventually to the port of Wilmington, North Carolina. Proximity to these highways places Polk County in a strategic position for potential business development in the future. Polk County is also served by an additional highway, U.S. Highway: U.S. Route 176. This was the primary highway linking Saluda and Tryon to Hendersonville, North Carolina and Spartanburg, S.C. prior to the delayed completion of I-26 in 1976. Two North Carolina routes, N.C. 108 and N.C. 9, traverse the county as well. N.C. 108 begins in Rutherfordton, North Carolina and travels west through Columbus and ends at U.S. 176 in Tryon. Oriented north-to-south, N.C. 9 connects Black Mountain, North Carolina and Lake Lure, North Carolina to Spartanburg and points southeast via Polk County. N.C. 108 and N.C. 9 intersect in Mill Spring. Polk County and Saluda are infamous among railroad enthusiasts for the Saluda Grade, the steepest standard-gauge mainline railway grade in the United States. Norfolk Southern suspended freight traffic indefinitely along this route in December 2001. The track remains in place for reopening the line in the future. Polk County operates under a County Manager and a 5 person Board of Commissioners.

We've received reports from several individuals about phone calls claiming they have a warrant for their arrest. These c...
06/11/2026

We've received reports from several individuals about phone calls claiming they have a warrant for their arrest. These calls are scams designed to panic you into sending money.

Fraudsters often impersonate law enforcement or court officials and may even use real phone numbers through "spoofing" or send fake warrant documents to appear legitimate. They usually demand payment via wire transfers, cryptocurrencies (such as Bitcoin), payment apps (such as Zelle or Venmo), or prepaid gift cards.

Legitimate law enforcement will never ask for payment over the phone to resolve a warrant. If you do have a legitimate arrest warrant, officers will serve it in person rather than calling to warn you or offering to resolve it over the phone.

Scammers will try to scare you by threatening immediate jail time and instructing you not to hang up or contact anyone else.

If you receive such a call, hang up immediately. Do not engage with the caller, and never provide any personal information, bank details, or money.

06/09/2026
06/05/2026
06/03/2026

Polk County Animal Control wants to inform the community about a daytime incident involving a pack of coyotes attacking a domesticated dog that was on a leash during a walk with it's owner on the FETA trails.

Coyotes tend to be more active in daylight hours during birthing season, so please remain aware of your surroundings.

If you encouter any wildlife issues, please contact the North Carolina Wildlife Commission at 800-662-7137. For further inquiries, you can reach the Polk County Animal Control at 828-894-3001.

May 28, 2026 – Polk County Sheriff’s Office is providing an update to the incident on Sunday May 24, 2026 regarding a st...
05/28/2026

May 28, 2026 – Polk County Sheriff’s Office is providing an update to the incident on Sunday May 24, 2026 regarding a structure fire on West Fork Creek Road in Saluda. Two individuals that were pronounced deceased on scene have been identified as Robert Louis Peck, 80 and Wendy Susan Peck, 80 both from Saluda, NC.

Autopsies have been performed and these deaths have been ruled homicides. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Henderson County Sheriff’s Office, and NC SBI are actively investigating this matter. No further details can be released at this time and there will continue to be a large police presence in the area during this investigation.

“Our thoughts are first with the family and neighbors of Mr. & Mrs. Peck. I want our residents to hear directly from me that we have committed significant resources to this investigation, working alongside the Polk County Fire Marshal, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigations, and the Henderson County Sheriff’s Office” said Polk County Sheriff Tim Wright “Our deputies have maintained a continuous presence in the area since Sunday evening, and that presence will remain visible and active in the days ahead. There is no greater priority than the safety of this community. I am asking the public to remain alert and trust your instincts. If you saw something, heard something, or know something, please come forward. A single tip can change the course of a case like this. You can reach our investigators at 828-722-5033. We will not rest until those responsible are brought to justice.”

If any residents have any tips on this crime, please contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at 828-722-5033.

# # #

SALUDA, NC - On Sunday, May 24, 2026, at approximately 8:30 p.m., emergency responders were dispatched to a reported structure fire in the West Fork Creek Road area of the Saluda community. Fire, rescue, and EMS personnel responded and contained the blaze. During the subsequent investigation, two individuals were located deceased inside the residence. The identities of the decedents are being withheld pending positive identification and notification of next of kin.
The Polk County Fire Marshal’s Office, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, and agents from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) are jointly investigating the cause of the fire and the two deaths. Additional information will be released as the investigation progresses.
Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office at (828) 894-3001, or, after hours, at (828) 894-0188

05/20/2026

Join the Polk County Sheriff's Office for the 2nd Annual Back-to-School Fundraiser on July 11th!
All proceeds will go to the Polk County Sheriff's Needy Fund, which provides school essentials for students in Polk County at the start of the school year.

Register today at www.PolkSheriffNC.com/Golf and see if you can out-golf Capt Edwards!

Address

164 Government Complex Drive
Columbus, NC
28722

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+18288943001

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