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 Alicia Manautou. 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.

Oct 30, 2024

Career criminal arrested again following violent attack on a man in Lakeland

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A man who has been to state prison ten times and has served 21-years behind bars was arrested again by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, October 29, 2024.

PCSO deputies had been looking for 56-year old Thomas Polk of Lakeland for about two days, after detectives determined he was responsible for cutting a man's face with a knife.

The victim wasn't seriously injured in the attack, but detectives obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect with a charge of aggravated battery (F2).

Deputies located Polk's car while driving in the area of Pebblebrooke and Campbell Road in Lakeland.

A traffic stop was initiated, and when deputies approached the vehicle, they found Polk trying to conceal himself inside the car, trying to hide. He was taken into custody without incident.

Thomas Polk's criminal history includes arrests for: Burglary, Grand Theft, Grand Theft of a Motor Vehicle, Trafficking Stolen Property, Retail Theft, Counterfeiting, Uttering Forged Instrument, Battery on LEO, Battery on 65 years or older, Fleeing to Elude, Domestic Violence, and Resisting Officer without Violence.

He was most recently released from prison in April of 2023.