News and Investigations

The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested three masked individuals from Altamonte Springs Friday evening, June 20th, as they drove through Polk County in a stolen vehicle.

A PCSO deputy was traveling on I-4 near Lakeland behind a 2016 Mazda CX-5 that had been reported stolen in Orange County. The deputy radioed for additional units, which responded to the area undetected by the suspects.

As the Mazda continued driving east, two deputies that were ahead of the Mazda, positioned their vehicles in a way to purposely cause a temporary traffic jam. As traffic slowed to a stop just east of CR 557, the other deputies boxed in the stolen Mazda, and they took all three occupants into custody without incident. 

The three suspects were identified as: Schuyler Barry-Austin (19), Vertrelle Walker, Jr. (21), and Deontrae Walker (16).

The suspects were wearing masks and gloves at the time of their arrests. The driver, Schuyler, was also in possession of a handgun that had been reported stolen out of Orange County.

Vertrelle was charged with: Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Possession Less than 20 Grams, Possession of Burglary Tools, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Possession of Narcotic Paraphernalia. 

Schuyler was charged with: Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Grand Theft of a Firearm, Possession of a Firearm during the Commencement of a Felony, Possession of a Vehicle for the Sale of Narcotics, Possession of Cannabis WITS, Possession of Cannabis Greater than 20 Grams, Possession of Burglary Tools, and Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor

And Deontrae was charged with: Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle and Possession of Burglary Tools.

All charges were enhanced due the suspects wearing masks. 

All three have prior criminal histories.