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.

Jun 27, 2026

Wanted man trying to hide in attic arrested after gravity delivers him to deputies below

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

At approximately 4:15 pm on Friday, June 26, 2026, PCSO deputies went to a residence on Dante Street in Lakeland, in an attempt to locate 37-year-old Andrew Martinez who had a felony warrant for retail theft.

Deputies attempted to make contact at the front door but were surprised when a body unexpectedly fell through the ceiling over the front porch and crashed to the ground. It was Martinez.

He quickly got up and began to run away.

The deputies gave chase.

One of the deputies was accompanied with his K9 partner Reno. The deputy yelled out to Martinez that if he continued running, the deputy would release K9 Reno.

With that, Martinez looked back, saw K9 Reno, and wisely opted to cease his run by jumping to the ground and surrendering.

Andrew Martinez was arrested on his warrant and additionally charged for resisting without violence for running away, albeit very briefly.