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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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.
Feb 18, 2026
Lake Wales Charter school employee arrested after traffic stop
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Media Relations Administrator
At around 8:15 a.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2026, a Polk County deputy sheriff conducted a traffic stop on a gray Nissan SUV in the area of Ridgewood Lakes and U.S. Hwy 27 in Davenport after being notified that the registered owner of the vehicle had a suspended driver's license.
The driver was positively identified as the registered owner - 47-year-old Chenia Thate of Orlando. She provided the deputy with her license, at which time he informed her that it was suspended due to lack of insurance. She told the deputy that she did not know it was suspended.
The deputy ran Thate's information through the database and learned she had a warrant for her arrest for failure to appear in court regarding the failure to maintain insurance. Thate told the deputy that she could not recall signing a citation, however, the deputy found the original citation and confirmed that she signed the criminal notice to appear paperwork.
She was taken into custody for the warrant and released after posting $250.00 bond. She is currently the principal at Hillcrest Elementary School in Lake Wales, a Lake Wales Charter School.
"This is disappointing, to say the least. Someone in a position of authority over schoolchildren should be setting the example for honesty, morals, and ethics." - Grady Judd, Sheriff