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.

Jan 4, 2023

Polk County Sheriff’s Office investigating 2 similar shootings in unincorporated Lake Wales, early Monday morning, 17 minutes apart

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest(s) of those responsible for these shootings, through Heartland Crime Stoppers. www.heartlandcrimestoppers.com. Anonymity is guaranteed!

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is investigating two similar shootings in unincorporated Lake Wales that happened 17 minutes apart early Monday morning, January 2, 2022. Click here for Sheriff Judd's comments on the investigation.

At around 2:52 a.m. deputies responded to a drive-by shooting that happened in the Highland Park Manor Subdivision. The suspects used two different firearms and shot at a home in the subdivision. Fifty-nine ammunition casings were recovered, 30 of which struck the home injuring a 19-year-old female who was asleep in a bedroom. She was taken to a local hospital where she is being treated for non-life threatening injuries.
It appears this shooting happened at the intended address.

Seventeen minutes later, at around 3:09 a.m. deputies responded to a residence in the Lake Pierce Ranchettes subdivision for a reported shooting where two girls (14 and 12-years-old) were injured. So far in the investigation, detectives believe three people with firearms drove into the neighborhood, got out of a vehicle and shot at the home. Thirty-seven ammunition casings were found of which 27 struck the house, most striking the bedrooms.

The 14-year-old girl was struck in the thigh and buttocks. The 12-year-old was shot in the arm. Both were taken to a local hospital where they were treated for their injuries and later released.

It is believed the suspects targeted the wrong house within the subdivision. This shooting is believed to be related to a summer of 2022 shooting which was investigated by the Lake Wales Police Department.

“These thugs won’t be happy until they are all in prison, and we need the public’s help to accommodate these worthless, violent criminals. Please, if you have any information about either of these shootings, contact Heartland Crimestoppers and you will be eligible for a cash reward of $3000.” - Grady Judd - Sheriff