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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 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 28, 2022
Polk County Sheriff’s Office dive team searching for missing child in Lake Annie
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is currently searching Lake Annie south of Dundee for a 9-year old boy from Port St. Lucie who fell from a boat on Saturday, November 26, 2022.
PCSO deputies, along with Polk County Fire Rescue responded to Lake Annie at around 2:39 pm on Saturday, and had boats in the water immediately to look for the boy.
PCSO’s Marine Unit, Underwater Search and Recovery Team (USART), Aviation Unit, and Drone Units have been involved in the ongoing search. Polk County Fire Rescue, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office have also been involved in the search and recovery efforts.
“It’s a tragedy, and an unimaginable nightmare for the family of the boy. We are using extensive resources to find him. We’re working in a large lake with depths up to about 16-feet, with poor visibility, but we’ve been out there 24-hours a day, and will continue to be there until we find him.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The boy and his two brothers were on his father’s pontoon Saturday. The victim fell over the front and was struck by the boat's propeller. The father immediately jumped into the water to look for his son, while one of the other boys called 911 for help.
The victim was not wearing a personal flotation device when he fell into the water, but was not required to wear one by law.
The investigation and search are ongoing.