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.

Apr 15, 2026

Road rage incident near Davenport ends with one driver arrested

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

On Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at around 11:14 pm, PCSO deputies responded to the area of US 17-92 and Ernie Caldwell Boulevard near Davenport, after a road rage incident was reported.

The victims told deputies that the driver of a silver 2013 Toyota Venza cursed and flashed his lights at them, cut off their vehicle, and then pointed a gun at them while threatening to shoot them.

A deputy made contact with the driver of the Toyota, and he was identified as 40-year old Mark Cardona of Davenport.

Cardona confirmed that he did point a gun at the occupants of the other vehicle, but said that it was only a pepper ball gun.

The deputy noted that the pepper ball gun looked like a real firearm.

Cardona was arrested and taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center where he was charged with: Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon without Intent to Kill (F3, 2-counts).