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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 Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. 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.
Dec 16, 2019
Polk County School bus attendant and husband arrested for drug possession
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
On Friday, December 13, 2019, Polk County Sheriff's undercover narcotics detectives served a search warrant at 1133 North Swindell Avenue in Lakeland in response to tips received about possible drug activity at the home.
"When we arrested the suspects who live in this house, other people in the neighborhood and the suspects' own family members approached our detectives and thanked them for their professionalism, and for helping improve the quality of life in the area by getting rid of the illegal narcotics and those who deal in them." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
During the execution of the search warrant, detectives seized a small plastic bag containing cocaine, a baggie of marijuana, and a digital scale, and arrested 36-year-old Mary Whitehead and her husband, 41-year-old Antonio Whitehead, who live at the home with small children. The detectives contacted the Department of Children and Families regarding the children.
Mary Whitehead is employed as a bus attendant at Polk County Schools. Please refer any questions about her employment to Polk County Schools.
Both suspects were released from jail over the weekend after posting bond.
Mary Whitehead was charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine (F3) ($1,000 bond)
• Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams (F3) ($1,000 bond)
• Possession of paraphernalia (M1) ($500 bond)
Antonio Whitehead was charged with:
• Possession of Cocaine (F3) ($1,000 bond)
• Possession of Marijuana over 20 grams (F3) ($1,000 bond)
• Possession of paraphernalia (M1) ($500 bond)
Antonio's criminal history includes 7 prior felonies and 14 prior misdemeanors, with arrests for cocaine possession, marijuana possession, battery, grand theft, resisting arrest, trespassing, DWLSR, and VOP. He spent one year in state prison.