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.

Oct 1, 2024

PCSO arrests a wanted Lakeland man with extensive criminal history

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a Lakeland man Monday evening, September 30, 2024, after an arrest warrant was issued earlier that day for him for Violation of Pre-Trial Release for Sexual Battery on a 12-18 year old by a Custodian and Sexual Battery by Custodian on Victim under 12.

PCSO deputies located 48-year old Tyresse Harris while he was driving, and conducted a traffic stop on his vehicle at 5620 US 98 North in Lakeland.

Deputies arrested him without incident.

At the time of his arrest, he was found to be in possession of two plastic baggies of marijuana, and a plastic baggie with MDMA (ecstasy).

Tyresse Harris was taken back to the Polk County Jail.

Harris is no stranger to being locked-up...he has an extensive history of burglaries, vehicle theft, prowling, fleeing to elude, battery on LEO, drugs, and numerous sexual battery violations. Since 1998, he has been in Florida prisons four times.