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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.
Jul 17, 2026
Prolific retail theft suspect charged again after stealing hundreds of dollars’ worth of body wash
Media Contact: Juliana Rivera, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff's Office Organized Crime Unit has filed an additional charge against 47-year-old Gerald Cobbs, who was already being held in the Polk County Jail on charges including felony petit theft and use of an anti- shoplifting device.
On June 29, 2026, PCSO deputies responded to the Walgreens on Lakeland Highlands Road in Lakeland in reference to a retail theft. Deputies learned that three suspects entered the store together. While one suspect distracted the store clerk, the other two filled bags with numerous containers of body wash. The three suspects then left the store together without paying for the stolen items, which were valued at $644.76.
After reviewing the store's surveillance video, PCSO Organized Crime Unit detectives immediately recognized one of the “female” suspects as Gerald “Jalise” Cobbs due to his extensive history of prior arrests. Cobbs is known to dress as a female. Further investigation revealed that Cobbs had recently been arrested by the Lakeland Police Department on an active warrant and was already being held in the Polk County Jail.
As a result of the investigation, detectives added a charge of petit theft with prior convictions (F3) to his existing charges. The investigation is ongoing to identify his two accomplices.
Cobbs has an extensive criminal history, including 27 felony convictions and 17 misdemeanor convictions, the majority of which are for petit theft or grand theft offenses. He has been incarcerated eight times, serving a combined total of 11 years and one month in state prison (non-consecutive terms). He was most recently released from prison in October 2025.
"This suspect has made a career out of stealing, and despite spending more than 11 years in prison, he continues to victimize businesses in our community. Our Organized Crime detectives recognized him almost immediately because they've dealt with him so many times before. If he would put as much effort into earning an honest living as he does into stealing, he wouldn't keep ending up in jail." – Grady Judd, Sheriff.