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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.
Mar 8, 2026
Deputies box man's car in at intersection to arrest him following battery
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence in the area of Tanglewood Street and Combee Road, west of Lakeland, in the evening hours of Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
At around 9:21 pm, it was reported that a man had repeatedly punched and choked a person, and had also taken the victim's cell phone when the victim tried to call 911 for help.
The suspect was identified as 38-year old Michael Joshua Stammer of Lakeland, and he fled the scene in a blue 2014 Toyota sedan.
A PCSO deputy located the vehicle a short time later, and followed behind inconspicuously until additional units got to the area. When Stammer stopped his vehicle for a red light at US 98 and CR540A, the units quickly moved to box-in the Toyota to keep Stammer from fleeing.
When Stammer was taken into custody, it became apparent that he had been driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Michael Stammer was taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center and charged with: Aggravated Battery by Strangulation, Simple Battery, Tampering with a Victim, and DUI.