But Questions Asked About Charge, Police Access To iPhone, Distance Of House To School
BY: ANDREW COLTON | Editor and Publisher
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2021 MetroDesk Media, LLC) (News App readers click here for full story, reports) — A Boca Raton man is facing a drug charge for allegedly trying to sell nearly 2 pounds of marijuana near Boca Raton Community High School.
Jarret Polnac of the 1400 block of NW 14th Avenue was arrested by Boca Raton Police Tuesday morning. He was released on $5000 bond.
But there are questions being asked by those who know Polnac as to why it took police nearly a year to charge him, how police accessed the contents of his iPhone 11, and whether his address is truly within 1000 feet of a school. While Google Maps, as you see below, shows close proximity to Boca High “as the crow flies,” anyone walking would need to take several streets over more than half a mile to arrive at the home. If someone walked directly, they’d apparently need to wade through a canal and trespass multiple times.
According to a police report which you can read — in its entirety — below, police were called to his house last year to investigate an alleged home invasion robbery. During the investigation, police say they found 1.93 pounds of marijuana, 69.5 pills of Alprazolam, 10.7 grams of cocaine, 94 boxes of pre rolled marijuana cigarettes, 10 packs of THC cartridges, 19 jars of edible marijuana, a drug ledger, a black scale, a money counter, and 4 juvenile marijuana plants.
Wrote an officer in a warrant application, “Your affiant believes that the items found inside the residence is indicative of narcotics sale or/or narcotics trafficking.”
As the investigation continued, police came into custody of what they say is Polnac’s phone — allegedly full of photos of drugs and transactions.
“There were numerous text messages, videos, and pictures stored on the cell phone that depict probable cause that Jarrett Polnac was actively selling narcotics from the above residence. Through the physical and digital evidence probable cause was established that Jarrett Polnac violated Florida Statute (for) possession with the intent of sale of marijuana (1.93 pounds) within 1000 feet (247.5 feet) from the Boca Raton Community High School.”
But associates of Polnac question the accuracy of the police report and want to know how Boca Police gained access to an iPhone 11 — a phone that is supposed to be secure. Polnac, according those who know him, never gave police permission to access the phone.
Boca Raton Police confirm to BocaNewsNow.com that the department does use a “Cellbrite” device to gain access to encrypted iPhones when consent is given or a warrant is obtained. Cellbrite manufactures a device for law enforcement that overrides Apple’s encryption.
Polnac’s associates say there are multiple discrepancies in the official police report filed with the Palm Beach County Clerk of Court.
A court date is pending.
Read the complete police report below. If you’re reading in a news app and the PDF does not appear, click here.
