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.

Jun 27, 2022

Polk wrong way driver charged with vehicular homicide

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

Polk County Sheriff's Office deputies charged 39-year-old Mark Anthony Poe of Frostproof for vehicular homicide (F2) yesterday, Sunday, June 26, 2022 after he caused a crash on S.R. 60 East at Stokes Road in Lake Wales that resulted in the death of a 27-year-old Lake Wales woman.

According to the investigation so far, at around 3:20 a.m. Poe was driving a white 2009 Chevrolet Silverado in the wrong lane - west in the eastbound lanes on S.R. 60 just east of the intersection of Stokes Road. There were three passengers in Poe's truck. At the same time, the victim was driving a white 2017 Volkswagen Jetta east in the eastbound lanes of S.R. 60 when her vehicle was struck head-on by Poe's truck.

The driver of the Volkswagen died at the scene.

The passengers in Poe's vehicle were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released.

Deputies identified Poe as the driver - he had bloodshot eyes and his speech was slurred. Additionally, deputies smelled an odor of alcohol in the Silverado and found an open beer bottle on the rear floorboard. Also located was an open bottle of Jack Daniels Fire Whiskey on the grass median just north of the Silverado. Poe was taken to a local hospital where he is being treated for his injuries. Once released he will be transported to the Polk County Jail.

This investigation is on-going and additional criminal charges are likely.

The roadway was closed for approximately four hours in the area of the crash.