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.

Sep 13, 2025

Impaired Lakeland woman arrested after hit & run; had a juvenile passenger at the time of the crash

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

A Lakeland woman was arrested by Polk County deputies early Saturday morning, September 13th following a hit & run crash.

The crash was reported at around 1:30 am at West Campbell Road and Kathleen Road in Lakeland.

The victim provided a detailed description of the suspect's black Ford car and tag number after the suspect's vehicle left the scene.

Deputies located the Ford at Campbell Road North and Banana Road.

The fleeing driver was identified as 28-year old Z’Lexia Jaquila Willis of Lakeland.

Ms. Willis had a juvenile passenger in her car.

Deputies noted that Ms. Willis smelled of alcoholic beverage, and she exhibited signs of impairment.

Additionally, she was driving on a suspended license, and her vehicle had an expired tag.

Ms. Willis was arrested and taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center, where she submitted breath samples for breath-alcohol analysis.

The results of the test showed Ms. Willis had a BAC of 0.252 and 0.250, which is more than three times the legal threshold.

Despite her denials of driving and being in a crash, Z'Lexia Willis was arrested and charged with: DUI 0.15 or Higher, DWLSR, Leaving the Scene of a Crash with Property Damage, Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor, and Culpable Negligence.

The juvenile's mother came and took custody of the child.