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 Alicia Manautou. 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.

Apr 14, 2017

PCSO vice unit arrests four at county park for lewd behavior

Media Contact: Michele Cash, PIO

On Thursday, April 13, 2017, Polk County Sheriff's Office undercover detectives conducted an investigation at Gator Creek Reserve in unincorporated Polk County, in response to complaints about lewd activity. Four suspects were arrested and each were trespassed from all county parks.

58-year-old Kenneth Watson, of Lakeland, exposed himself to a male undercover PCSO detective. Watson was arrested and charged with one count soliciting another for lewdness, and one count offering to committing lewdness. Watson has a previous arrest in 1995 for indecent exposure in Winter Haven. Watson was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held on a $1,250 bond.

63-year-old Dominick Tobia, of Dade City, exposed himself to a male undercover PCSO detective. Tobia was arrested and charged with one count indecent exposure and one count offering to committing lewdness. Tobia was booked into the Polk County Jail and was released on a $750 bond.

71-year-old Joe Wood, of Lakeland, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective. Wood was arrested and charged with one count offering to commit lewdness. Wood was arrested 15 months ago for soliciting lewdness from an undercover detective in Highlands County, FL. Wood was booked into the Polk County Jail and is being held on a $500 bond.

56-year-old Joseph Regalbuto, of Lakeland, solicited a male undercover PCSO detective. Regalbuto was arrested and charged with one count soliciting another for lewdness. Regalbuto was booked into the Polk County Jail and was released on a $500 bond.