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

05-18-2012 Operation Pop Top

In the continue effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors, along with the assistance of a PCSO Explorer (Explorers are high school student volunteers), Polk County Sheriff’s Office School Resource Deputies conducted Operation Pop Top on Thursday, May 17, 2012.

05-16-2012 Sixth Positive Rabies Case Confirmed

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Animal Control Section confirmed today, Wednesday, May 16, 2012, the sixth positive Rabies case in Polk County for 2012.

05-16-2012 Jarol Santiago Located in Orlando, Arrested and Charged With First Degree Murder

On Wednesday, May 16, 2012, Orlando Police Officers and Orange County Sheriff's deputies located Jarol Santiago, DOB 2/16/1972, who was the boyfriend of murder victim Diana Mercado and had a Polk County Sheriff's warrant for his arrest. PCSO Homicide detectives brought Santiago to PCSO and interviewed him, and placed him under arrest for First Degree Murder.

05-12-2012 PCSO Investigating Death Of Inmate

Polk County Sheriff's detectives are investigating the death of a Polk County Jail inmate that occurred this morning, Saturday, May 12, 2012.

05-10-2012 Mulberry Man Arrested For Extortion Against Mosaic

On Thursday, May 10, 2012, Polk County Sheriff's detectives arrested 33-year-old John Robert Browning, DOB 12/20/1978, of 4000 Shady Hammock Drive in Mulberry, after he attempted to get the Mosaic Corporation to pay him thousands of dollars for a digital media card he claimed had incriminating photos on it.

05-08-2012 PCSO Tax Fraud Investigation “Stop the Drop” Nets 19 Suspects

Polk County Sheriff’s Office Identity Theft Task Force detectives have arrested 19 suspects who have defrauded local taxpayers and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) of hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is an ongoing investigation. Detectives have discovered 399 fraudulent identities and uncovered $475,995.66 that had been fraudulently obtained from the IRS.

05-04-2012 Polk County Sheriff’s Office Detectives Arrest Bobby Creech on Lewd Molestation Charges

“Our message is very clear-if there is anyone who has ever been a victim of crimes such as this, regardless of when it may have occurred, we will always investigate the case, and we will always seek justice for our victims,” Sheriff Grady Judd.