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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.
Jul 26, 2024
Polk County Sheriff's Office arrests man for soliciting undercover detective
Media Contact: Meghan Petty, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted an undercover operation at Saddle Creek Park and Gator Creek Preserve in response to complaints of lewd activity.
On July 25, 2024, at approximately 9:25 AM, a PCSO undercover detective was approached by 67-year-old Pablo Coronado at Saddle Creek Park in Lakeland. After a brief conversation, Coronado made unsolicited physical contact and expressed willingness to engage in sexual acts. The detective arrested Coronado without incident.
"This is a family park, a place where parents bring their children to make pleasant memories. They don't want their children witnessing behavior like this. That's why we do these undercover operations at various parks across the county. We want our community to be a safe place for parents to raise their children." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Upon his arrest, Coronado expressed remorse and admitted to going to the park to commit lewd acts. He was issued a 10-year trespass warning for all Polk County Parks.
Coronado was charged with offering/agreeing to commit a lewd act (M2) and simple battery (M1) and was transported to the Sheriff's Processing Center without incident.