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.

Mar 11, 2016

PCSO Vice Unit Arrests Two Men at Lake Fannie Boat Ramp

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

On Thursday, March 10, 2016, the PCSO Undercover Vice Unit conducted an operation at Lake Fannie Boat Ramp in unincorporated Winter Haven, in response to complaints about lewd activity. Two suspects were arrested:

83-year-old John Reynolds, of Haines City, solicited and performed a lewd act in front of an undercover PCSO detective. Reynolds was arrested and charged with one count Offering to Engage in Lewdness, and one count Trespassing in County Park After Warning. He was previously arrested in September 2014 at the same park for the same thing. He was released from jail on $750.00 bond.

51-year-old Andrew Carney of Winter Haven, exposed himself in the presence of an undercover PCSO detective. He was arrested for one count Indecent Exposure, and issued a permanent trespass from all Polk County parks. He told the detectives he is married. He does not have prior arrests in Polk County. He was released from jail on $500.00 bond.