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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 Meghan Petty. 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.
Aug 17, 2016
PCSO Vice Unit Arrests Four Men for Lewd Activity at Local Parks
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
On Tuesday, August 16, 2016, the PCSO Undercover Vice Unit conducted an operation at Saddle Creek Park and Gator Creek Preserve in unincorporated Polk County, in response to complaints about lewd activity. Four suspects were arrested.
40-year-old Shane Dwyer, of Lakeland, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective to perform a lewd act at Saddle Creek Park, and rubbed the detective's leg. Dwyer was arrested and charged with one count Soliciting Another to Commit Lewdness, and one count Battery. He was also issued a trespass from all parks in the county. He was released from jail on $750.00 bond.
65-year-old Richard King, of Lakeland, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective to perform a lewd act at Gator Creek Preserve, and exposed himself to the detective. King was arrested and charged with one count Soliciting Another to Commit Lewdness, one count Offer to Commit Lewdness, and one count Indecent Exposure. He was also issued a trespass from all parks in the county. He is being held on $1,000.00 bond.
RECORD SEALED OR EXPUNGED, grabbed a male undercover PCSO detective at Gator Creek Preserve. The suspect was arrested and charged with two counts Battery. He was also issued a trespass from all parks in the county. He was released from jail on $1,000.00 bond.
57-year-old Edward Panek, of Dade City, exposed himself to a male undercover PCSO detective at Gator Creek Preserve. Panek was arrested and charged with one count Indecent Exposure. He was also issued a trespass from all parks in the county. He is being held on $500.00 bond.