News and Investigations

On May 27, 2016, during a joint investigation, PCSO and WHPD detectives positively identified 34-year-old Buck Johnson of  Winter Haven as the suspect seen in the Winter Haven area driving up to juvenile females at school bus stop, showing them what appeared to be pornography on his cell phone, and exposing himself to them. After his arrest, he was additionally charged with possession of child pornography after a forensic analysis of his cell phone and computer. 

The following are excerpts from different affidavits:

The Polk County Sheriff's Office and the Winter Haven Police Department jointly investigated a combined total of ten (10) reported incidents of alleged lewd and lascivious exhibition involving similar methods of operation (modus operandi), similar suspect identification and a similar vehicle description. The ten (10) incidents reported to law enforcement occurred near the central and southeast area of Polk County to include Winter Haven, Lake Wales, and Auburndale.   

Eight (8) of the ten (10) reported incidents involved juvenile females at their bus stops or near their school. Two (2) of the victims were adults.  The victims reported a white or Hispanic male around thirty (30) years of age would approach them in a silver vehicle and motion for the juvenile females to come near the vehicle. The victims reported the suspect would show them images on his cellular phone while he was sitting in the vehicle. Some of the victims stated the images or videos appeared to be of people engaging in sexual activity. Some of the victims stated they observed the male suspect masturbating while they were standing near his vehicle. 

Several of the victims completed facial composites in which the suspect descriptions closely resembled each other and the suspect, Buck Johnson, DOB 11/28/81. 

The incidents occurred on April 8, May 25, and May 26, 2016. In some of the incidents, the suspect (Johnson) motioned to young girls at bus stops, wanting to show them something on his phone. The victims described the suspect as holding a blue and black cell phone, with photos on it that appeared to be pornographic. They reported seeing the suspect groping himself at the same time. They described in detail the clothing the suspect was wearing.

On 05/27/2016, at 0908 hours, the silver, Hyundai, four-door, bearing Florida tag# I349DF that matched the description of the suspect vehicle described by the victims was observed in the driveway of the residence of Buck Johnson.

On 05/27/2016, at 1744 hours, PCSO Detectives arrested Buck Johnson at his residence (2109 Kings Crossing Street SW) for stalking one of the adult female victims.  During a post-Miranda interview with Johnson's girlfriend, she stated she lives at the residence of 2109 Kings Crossing Street SW for the last five (5) months; she confirmed that Johnson owns and recently wore the two different outfits described by the victims. She stated Johnson has driven the silver Hyundai which was described by the victims at least three times during the week of 05/23/2016, and that he takes his mother to work on Cypress Gardens Blvd in the silver Hyundai, four-door at 0700 hours, and he usually returns to the residence around 1000 to 1100 hours.  

Post Miranda, Buck Johnson stated he drove the vehicle matching the description given by the victims, but he did not make any other statements or admissions. At a later time, Johnson asked to speak with a PCSO detective on his own and waiving his right to an attorney.  Johnson said his mind is altered when he uses methamphetamine and he only is interested in different sexual activity when he is under the influence.  

Based on the investigation, Johnson was booked into the Polk County Jail for the following PCSO charges:

• one count Lewd Exhibition  by a Suspect Over 18 with a Victim Younger than 16
• one count Display Obscene Material to a Minor
• one count Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony
• one count Stalking
• one count Aggravated Stalking of a Minor
• one count each Possession Marijuana, Meth, Clonazepam, and Paraphernalia

Detectives served a search warrant at his home, seizing his computer and cell phone. On June 1, 2016, PCSO Detectives additionally charged Johnson with two (2) counts Possession of Child Pornography, after locating two video files depicting young girls between the ages of 8 and 13 years old engaging in sexual conduct. 

On June 2, 2016, WHPD Detectives additionally charged Johnson with two (2) counts Lewd Exhibition by a Suspect Over 18 with a Victim Younger than 16, and one count Use of Two-Way Communication Device to Commit a Felony.