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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.
Jul 9, 2024
PCSO identifies three more victims and files more charges against video voyeur
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
New charges have been filed against a Winter Haven man who was arrested by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office on June 26, 2024, after PCSO detectives identified three other victims who were unknowingly recorded by a hidden camera.
43-year old Domingo Rivera Velez had already bonded out of the Polk County Jail on June 28th for his original charges of video voyeurism against a 15-year old girl. He was rearrested on Monday, July 8th and charged with the following: Video Voyeurism of Victim under 16 (F2), Video Voyeurism (2-counts, F3), Enhanced Possession of Child Pornography (2-counts, F3), and Production of Child Pornography (F2).
During Rivera Velez’s first arrest, PCSO detectives seized numerous electronic devices for forensic examination.
All three of the newly identified victims are now adults, but one of the victims was about 11-years old at the time he was recorded.
“Our detectives from the Special Victims Unit are doing a great job with this investigation, by working to identify every person Rivera Velez has secretly recorded. We know he’s surreptitiously video-recorded strangers where he worked, and we know that he’s done the same with relatives. We are holding him accountable for creating these sexually exploitative recordings—we are working to make sure he goes to prison.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
PCSO detectives are continuing to review videos that were recorded at the south Lakeland Home Depot store where Rivera Velez was employed. These videos were recorded in the aisles of the store, where Rivera Velez aimed a hidden camera under the skirts and dresses of female customers.
If anyone believes they may have encountered Rivera Velez at the store under suspicious circumstances, they are asked to contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit at 863-298-6200.