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.

Dec 10, 2024

Car burglar arrested; only item he managed to steal was a eyelash curler

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office responded to a car burglary-in-progress Monday evening, December 9, 2024, and quickly captured the suspect.

The victim reported the burglary at about 6:32 pm, and PCSO deputies arrived within minutes and captured the suspect at the scene.

The suspect was detained during the investigation, and identified as 50-year-old Mark Carter from Bartow.

The victim told deputies that the only thing missing from her vehicle was a light blue eyelash curler. It was found in Carter's possession.

Carter only said that he did some stuff that he wasn't supposed to be doing, then refused to speak anymore to deputies.

Mark Carter was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail, where he was charged with burglary of conveyance, petit theft, and trespassing.

The eyelash curler was returned to the victim.