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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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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 12, 2026

Simple pedestrian violation turns into violent struggle for deputy

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

On August 9, 2026 at around 8:18 pm,  a PCSO deputy stopped a man on Maine Avenue in Lakeland after he committed a minor pedestrian violation. 

The man had no identification on him, so he provided the deputy with a name and date of birth. That information provided no match to anyone in the Florida database. 

The man then provided a Social Security number. The number provided belongs to a white female, and the suspect was obviously not a white female. 

At that point in the interaction, the man tried to run away from the deputy.

A short foot pursuit followed, but the deputy caught up to the man. 

A struggle ensued, and the deputy tried to use his Taser on the suspect, but the man tried to take the Taser away from the deputy.

Finally, the Taser was effective and the deputy was able to take the suspect into custody.

After being arrested, it was learned that the suspect was 44-year-old Antwan Davis of Haines City, and he had an outstanding Polk County warrant for violation of probation for battery on LEO, resisting without violence, possession of over twenty grams of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.  Also, he had an outstanding Orange County warrant for failure to appear for possession of oxycodone.  

Antwan was transported to the Sheriff’s Processing Center for the warrants. He  was also charged with Battery on LEO, Resisting with Violence, Resisting without Violence, False Name to LEO, Depriving a LEO of Means of Protection, and Violation of Probation.

Antwan Davis has an extensive criminal history including arrests for grand theft, petit theft, uttering a forged instrument, trafficking oxycodone, possession of cannabis with intent to sell, possession of paraphernalia, battery on LEO, resisting with violence, resisting without violence, tampering with evidence, violation of probation, and DWLSR.