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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 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.
Mar 27, 2025
Lakeland duo arrested for multiple crimes in northern Lakeland community
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A witness saw something and immediately said something in the early morning hours of Wednesday, March 26, 2025, and as a result, two men were arrested by deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
The deputies were dispatched to May Grove Village off of Gibsonia-Galloway Road in Lakeland at around 3:00 am, and they located the golf cart that the two men were fleeing in.
21-year old Bradley Shaw and 20-year old Caiden Kirkland (both of Lakeland) were detained for the investigation.
The deputies recovered gloves, a mask, and a hoodie that was discarded from the suspects as they were fleeing.
Both were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail, and each was charged with: Unarmed burglary of an occupied dwelling (3 counts) (mask enhancement), trespassing (2 counts), loitering and prowling (6 counts), conspiracy to commit burglary, possession of burglary tools, tampering with physical evidence, resisting arrest without violence, burglary of a conveyance, petit theft 2nd offense, and unlawful possession of personal identification.