News Room

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 Eleazer and Donna Wood. Public Information Officers can be reached by sending e-mail to each one individually (carrie@polksheriff.org or dcwood@polksheriff.org) or collectively at pio@polksheriff.org.

Public Information Office

Polk County HIDTA Task Force News Releases

News Releases

02-03-2012 PCSO Undercover Detectives Locate and Dismantle Grow House in Polk City

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, PCSO undercover Tactical Drug Unit detectives received a tip of a possible grow house located at 9621 Highway 33 North in Polk City. Upon their arrival, as they approached the house on foot, detectives could smell a strong odor of raw cannabis (marijuana) emanating from within.

02-03-2012 PCSO Investigating Death of Inmate

Polk County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the death of a Polk County inmate that occurred this morning, February 3, 2012, at Bartow Regional Medical Center.

02-03-2012 Eight Men Arrested During Undercover Vice Operation At Saddle Creek Park

On Friday, February 3, 2012, PCSO Vice detectives conducted an undercover operation at the Saddle Creek Park located on Morgan Combee Road between Lakeland and Winter Haven in response to complaints of lewd activity taking place there.

02-03-2012 OPERATION POP TOP

On Thursday, February 2, 2012, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, School Resource deputies, along with the assistance of a PCSO Explorer, (Explorers are high school student volunteers), conducted “Operation Pop-Top” in an effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. The operation was conducted in the Winter Haven area of Polk County.

02-01-2012 POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE DETECTIVES “RUSTLE UP” TWO SUSPECTS IN GRAND THEFT OF LIVESTOCK

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Agriculture detectives identified two suspects responsible for the December grand theft of cattle from a pasture in Polk City.

01-30-2012 The Central Florida Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Successfully Concluded 1,156 Investigations in 2011

In September 2007, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office was named the Central Florida* Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force Coordinator. Over the years, the task force has grown – as of January 2012, representatives from forty-seven (47) local, state, and federal agencies have joined the task force, and each of them has shared and gained valuable experience and knowledge in the realm of Internet crimes against children.

01-29-2012 POLK COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE HOMICIDE DETECTIVES ARREST LAKELAND MAN ON SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Homicide detectives today arrested Kristian C. Brooks-Marlar of 2339 View Way in Lakeland for the beating death of Matthew Ross McCraney of 4630 Swindell Road in Lakeland. The death occurred in the early morning hours of January 29, 2012, in Lakeland.

Crime Stoppers

02-01-2012 INFORMATION SOUGHT IN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY

Polk County Sheriff's detectives are seeking the public's help identifying the suspects seen in video surveillance burglarizing a Winter Haven home.

01-31-2012 INFORMATION SOUGHT IN CRIMINAL MISCHIEF - SHOOTING AT VEHICLES

Polk County Sheriff's detectives are seeking the public's help identifying the suspect or suspects responsible for damaging cars in the Lake Wales area with shotgun blasts.