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.

Dec 31, 2019

Deputies arrest two Polk County men for lewd behavior at Saddle Creek Park

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

On Monday, December 30, 2019, undercover detectives from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Vice Unit arrested two local men at one of the three areas they checked following complaints of lewd activity in the county’s public parks.

60-year-old John Hubbard of Lakeland was arrested at Saddle Creek Park after he propositioned an undercover detective to engage in a lewd act with him while watching people entering the park. Hubbard was charged with Offer/Agree to Commit a Lewd Act (M-2).

71-year-old Jerry Tribbett of Auburndale was also arrested at Saddle Creek Park. Tribbett propositioned the undercover detective to engage in a lewd act and grabbed the detective’s groin. Tribbett was charged with Offer/Agree to Commit a Lewd Act (M-2), and Battery (M-1). He told detectives that he has participated in lewd behavior with an unknown man at this park in the past.

“This is an ongoing operation by our detectives. These parks were made for families to enjoy. We have, and will continue to arrest people who behave this way at the county parks and boat ramps.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Detectives also conducted undercover operations at Gator Creek Reserve and Lake Fannie Boat Ramp with no illegal activity observed.