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 11, 2024

Lakeland man with late-stage Alzheimer’s found dead after wandering away after Hurricane Milton

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office located the body of a missing Lakeland man Friday morning, October 11, 2024, after he wandered away the night before.

83-year old Marco Grillo was reportedly in the late-stages of Alzheimer’s disease, and had a heart condition and bad circulation.

Marco’s wife, Suzanne told detectives that the couple had been sleeping in their van at the front of their Alderman Road neighborhood due to their home being flooded by heavy rain during Hurricane Milton.

At about 7:31 am, the PCSO Air Unit spotted the victim’s body floating beneath the surface of the flood water behind the couple’s residence.

“Despite Mr. Grillo being found in his backyard, the area was so flooded that our Aviation Unit had to direct deputies on an airboat to him. Our prayers are with his family.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The investigation is ongoing, and an autopsy is pending.