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.

Feb 26, 2025

Anonymous tip about one possible crime leads deputies to discover illegal cockfighting

On Tuesday evening, February 25, 2025, PCSO deputies followed up on an anonymous tip regarding a possible past-occurred crime, and during the process they discovered a whole different crime occurring.

While attempting to make contact with residents at a home on McClellan Road in Frostproof, deputies saw multiple roosters in cages. The roosters were missing their combs and wattles, which is common for roosters used in illegal cock fighting.

Also visible to deputies were a fighting ring and scales which are used to determine weight class for the roosters.

Detectives obtained a search and seizure warrant and among the items recovered were metal spurs, boxing gloves, and a ledger containing fight rounds.

Detectives determined that Alex Galarza owned roosters and possessed equipment for the purpose of illegal animal fighting.

During the investigation, Alex's sister Isela Garcia-Galarza (19) would not heed warnings against interfering with detectives, and she was arrested for obstruction.

Alex Galarza was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with: Breeding, training - cock fighting (F3), Owning, possessing for the purpose of Cock fighting (F3), Managing, operating property for the purpose of cock fighting (F3).