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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.
Jun 1, 2026
Woman arrested after harassing a neighbor and falsely reporting him for a crime
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
A Poinciana woman was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on Sunday, May 31, 2026, after she went over to harass her neighbor, then falsely reported that the man tried to hit her with his car.
Polk County deputies were dispatched to the scene at around 10:19 pm, after 45-year-old Cynthia Thales reported a disturbance with her neighbor.
During the call, she claimed that the man next door attempted to hit her with his vehicle.
Deputies arrived and obtained a sworn written statement by Thales in which she again stated that her neighbor intentionally tried to “run her over.”
The deputies reviewed recordings and security videoa and found that Thales was not the victim, but rather the suspect.
Video showed the victim arriving at his residence in his car, and he backed-into his garage.
Thales ran next door and entered the man’s garage and stood in front of the door sensor, keeping him from closing the door. During this time, she yelled obscenities at the victim and told him, “Call the cops, immigrant!”
The suspect also grabbed a sandal and a can of WD-40 from inside the garage and threw them at the victim’s windshield.
The victim remained in his vehicle until deputies arrived on scene.
At the conclusion of the investigation, Cynthia Thales was arrested and taken to the Sheriff’s Processing Center. She was charged with Burglary with Assault (F1), Petit Theft from a Dwelling (M1), and Knowingly Giving False Information of a Crime (M1).