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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.

May 29, 2026

PCSO Vice Unit arrests Davenport man for lewd act

Media Contact: Juliana Rivera, PIO

On Thursday, May 28, 2026, the PCSO Undercover Vice Unit conducted an operation at Lake Hartridge Nature Park in Winter Haven, in response to complaints about lewd activity. One suspect was arrested.

39 year-old Dustin Wilson of Davenport solicited an undercover PCSO detective to perform a lewd act at the park, and also exposed himself to the undercover detective by penetrating a hole in a bathroom stall.

Byrne was arrested and charged with offering to engage in lewdness (M2) and indecent exposure of sexual organs (M1). He was also issued a trespass from all parks in the county.