PCSO Robbery detectives have arrested all five suspects wanted in a June 29, 2014, carjacking investigation.

16 people were arrested in “Operation Cyber Child III,” an undercover operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) focusing on adults travelling to meet minors to engage in sexual activity and on those who possess child pornography.

In May 2014, PCSO Undercover detectives initiated an investigation into Nelson Hernandez of Lake Wales, who coordinated sophisticated marijuana grow houses in Polk County.

“The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Computer Crimes detectives are simply the best of the best,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “As a result of their hard work and commitment to protecting Polk County’s most vulnerable victims, and because of the exceptional partnership they have built with the State Attorney’s Office of the 10th Judicial Circuit, a true child predator will never walk free again.”

Polk County Sheriff’s Office detectives arrested two men with extensive criminal records yesterday, Tuesday, June 10, 2014, in connection with the May 22, 2014 robbery of the Wells Fargo Bank branch located on Cypress Gardens Road, Winter Haven. The men are also believed to have robbed two other banks, one in Kissimmee and one in Leesburg.

31-year-old Rodney J. Brown of Lakeland, was arrested on Saturday, June 7, 2014, charged with Domestic Battery, Cultivation of Marijuana, Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

The Polk County Sheriff's Office is seeing an increase in telephone scams in Polk County where the caller identifies himself as a "tax crime investigator" and threatens bodily harm if the victims don't pay up. In one recent case, the scam artist told the victim that he would come to her house and kidnap her if she didn't pay money she "owed" to the IRS. The 92-year-old woman paid out $8000 before reporting it to PCSO.

“This suspect admitted to smoking a blunt and a half of marijuana, staying up all night then becoming enraged enough to throw a baby across a room just because it was crying,” said Sheriff Grady Judd. “This is just another example of marijuana abuse linked to child abuse.”