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.

Dec 22, 2020

Registered sex offender arrested for video voyeurism

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff's Office Special Victims Unit arrested 48-year-old Daniel Darren Sweeney, a registered sex offender, on the charge of video voyeurism.

Sweeney is a registered sex offender for possessing child pornography.

Following a tip, detectives searched Sweeney's electronic devices and located pornographic (nude) videos of a child to whom he had access. The victim had no knowledge of the recordings. The videos were recorded in the bathroom.

During an interview, Sweeney told detectives he recorded and edited videos of the victim. He also told the detectives he knew it was wrong to do so.

"I am proud of the citizen who reported this horrible crime. Protecting children is a priority, and the arrest of this sex offender sends this message - harming children in any manner will not be tolerated." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Detectives took Sweeney into custody, and he was booked into the Polk County Jail on December 21, 2020. He is being held with no bond, and is charged with Video Voyeurism (F3) and Violation of Felony Probation. Sweeney's criminal history includes Possession of Child Pornography and Sex Offender Violation.