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 1, 2021

Lakeland man arrested for committing a lewd act at Saddle Creek Park

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

On Tuesday, November 30, 2021, undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit arrested 69-year-old Donald Wayne Johnson of Lakeland for lewd activity at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland.

Johnson, who was inappropriately touching himself, solicited an undercover male detective to engage in a lewd act. Johnson was issued a trespass order from all county parks for a 10-year period and arrested for Offering to Commit a Lewd Act (M2). He was released from jail after posting a $250.00 bond.

"This is completely unacceptable. Polk County parks are places where families and children go to enjoy the outdoors - they should never have to encounter disgusting acts like these. We will continue to patrol our public parks and to arrest people who publicly engage in lewd activity."- Grady Judd, Sheriff