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 Alicia Manautou. 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.

Nov 24, 2021

Polk County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrest two high-volume methamphetamine and fentanyl drug traffickers; 3 others arrested

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

On Tuesday, November 23, 2021, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Task Force (HIDTA) arrested five people during a drug trafficking investigation that began in late October.

Detectives began their investigation after learning that large amounts of narcotics were being sold out of a residence located at 206 Colorado Avenue in Lakeland.

During the investigation, undercover deputies identified 55-year-old Lisa Radina of Lakeland as a local drug dealer/trafficker selling methamphetamine, heroine, and fentanyl. During their interaction, Radina asked an undercover detective to drive her to her supplier’s home at 206 Colorado Avenue in order to pick up around 7-grams of fentanyl. That’s when detectives learned Radina’s supplier was 41-year-old Nareo Lewis of Lakeland.

On November 23^rd detectives obtained a search warrant for Lewis’ residence and arrested Radina who at the time of the arrest possessed 12-grams of fentanyl.

During the serving of the warrant, Nareo Lewis attempted to flee out the backdoor with a backpack, but was quickly apprehended. During a search of the backpack, detectives found large quantities of illegal narcotics:

* One kilogram of methamphetamine
* 75 grams of powder cocaine
* 20 grams of crack cocaine
* 75 grams of fentanyl powder 175 grams of suspected fentanyl pills
* 392 grams of confirmed fentanyl pills (almost 1 pound)

Inside the home, detectives additionally seized about one-pound of marijuana and a handgun (Lewis is a convicted felon). Nareo Lewis was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.

While detective were executing the search warrant, 54-year-old Kevin Mason of Lakeland arrived at the residence on a bicycle. When a detective, who was wearing a Sheriff’s Office vest asked him why he was there, Mason told the detective he wanted to purchase $100 worth of narcotics. A search of Mason’s bag revealed illegal Xanax, carisoprodol pills, and methamphetamine. Mason was arrested and transported to the Polk County Jail.

“Illegal drugs destroy lives and families, and generate theft and violence in our community, and drug traffickers are profiting from the destruction. I’m proud of the good work our detectives did to take these drugs off the street and send these traffickers to jail.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The following people were arrested:

41-year-old Nareo Lewis of Lakeland. He is charged with:

Armed Trafficking in Fentanyl
Armed Trafficking in Cocaine
Armed Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts)
Sale of Fentanyl
Possession of Weapon by Convicted Felon
Possession of Marijuana Over 20 Grams
Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Sell
Possession of Firearm by Convicted Felon
Maintaining Residence for Drug Trafficking
Maintaining Residence for Drug Sales
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 counts)
Tampering with Evidence
Resisting a Law Enforcement Officer Without Violence

Lewis has a previous criminal history that includes 22 felonies and 19 misdemeanors with charges of aggravated battery, lewd and lascivious behavior against a victim between the age of 12 and 16-years-old, destroying evidence, violation of probation, and numerous charges of possession and sales of drugs. He has been incarcerated in Florida State Prison 3 times.

55-year-old Lisa Radina of Lakeland. She is charged with:

Trafficking in Methamphetamine
Trafficking in Fentanyl (2 counts)
Conspiracy to Traffic Fentanyl (2 counts)
Sale of heroin
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Radina’s criminal history includes a federal charge for drug trafficking in Maryland, four other drug trafficking arrests in Maryland and New York.

54-year-old Kevin Mason of Lakeland. He is charged with:

Possession of Controlled Substance (2 counts)
Possession of Methamphetamine
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Mason’s criminal history includes 16 felony charges and 25 misdemeanors including fraud, grand theft auto, DUI, fleeing to elude, leaving the scene of a crash, resisting a law enforcement officer, driving with a suspended license, battery, petit theft, violation of probation, and numerous drug possession charges.

Two others were arrested while serving the search warrant at 206 Colorado Avenue, Lakeland:

18-year-old A’nijah Lewis of Lakeland. She is charged with:

Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

18-year-old Aryelle Frederick of Lakeland. She is charged with:

Possession of Marijuana
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia