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News and Investigations

News & Investigations

News Releases and Public Information

Welcome to the Polk County Sheriff's Office News Room, where the Public Information Officers (PIO's) post all of the information that they release to the news media. PIO's act as liaisons between news media organizations and the Sheriff's Office. The PIO's routinely release timely and accurate information and Crime Stoppers bulletins, and respond to routine and "breaking news" media inquiries. News releases and Crime Stoppers information can be found on this page.

PCSO's full-time Public Information Officers are Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Alicia Manautou. The Public Information Officers can be reached by sending an e-mail collectively at PIOs@polksheriff.org

The recent news releases sent out by the PIOs can be found here, and archived releases (older than 2017) can be found here.

Ben Rutgers 2018 Mugshot
Feb 1, 2019

Suicidal man apprehended ...

A 32-year-old Winter Haven man is lucky to be alive today, but he will face multiple criminal charge...

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Larry Meggers
Feb 1, 2019

Polk County Sheriff's Off...

On Thursday, January 31, 2019, PCSO Computer Crimes detectives arrested 41-year-old Larry Meggers of...

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Mugshot of William Smith
Jan 31, 2019

Former Youth & Family ser...

On Wednesday, January 30, 2019, detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office added an additional...

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Marcus Franklin
Jan 30, 2019

Ridge High School counsel...

On Tuesday, January 29, 2019, PCSO detectives who were conducting a battery investigation (between t...

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Raccoon
Jan 25, 2019

First rabies case of 2019...

The Polk County Sheriff's Office Animal Control Section confirmed on Friday, January 25, 2019,

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Max Hernandez
Jan 22, 2019

PCSO Arrests Winter Have...

 42-year-old Max Hernandez of Winter Haven was arrested and charged on Friday, January 18,...

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