Click Here for ADA Accessible Format

Polk County Sheriff’s Phone# 863-298-6200

If in an emergency Dial 911

Polk County Sheriff Facebook Polk County Sheriff Twitter Polk County Sheriff Instagram Polk County Sheriff Youtube Polk County Sheriff Twitter

Hit enter to search or ESC to close

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.

Sep 8, 2026

Lake Wales man charged with attempted murder after unprovoked attack

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

A Lake Wales man was arrested for Attempted 2nd Degree Murder (F1) on Monday, September 7, 2026 after he violently beat another man without provocation. 

Polk County Sheriff's Office detectives arrested 46-year old Christopher Lewis Boudreaux after he beat the victim on the head so hard with a clothes iron that it caused the iron to break into pieces.

The attack happened in a Lake Wales residence where both men were residing.

At around 5:40 am, Boudreaux entered the room and began yelling at the victim who was sleeping on a couch. About nine minutes later, Boudreaux yelled at the man again and punched the victim on his head while he was still lying down.

A few minutes after that, Boudreaux re-engaged with the victim by throwing a glass of water at him, and then rushing him with a clothes iron in hand. 

As Boudreaux was beating the victim with the iron, the victim grabbed the glass that had been thrown at him, and he hit Boudreaux with it. 

Boudreaux left the room and went to his bedroom.

PCSO Detectives responded to the scene and spoke with others who were present in the residence, and Forensic Investigators collected evidence from the scene.

Both Boudreaux and the victim were taken to the hospital to be treated. 

The victim suffered multiple contusions to his face and head, and remains hospitalized in stable condition.

After Boudreaux was released from the hospital, he was arrested and booked-in at the Sheriff's Processing Center.