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.

Sep 19, 2018

Polk County detectives arrest four men and one woman for lewd behavior in public parks

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

On Tuesday, September 18, 2018, detectives from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested five people for lewd behavior in Saddle Creek Park and Gator Creek Park.

Undercover detectives conducted an investigation following complaints of the lewd behavior occurring in both public parks, in public view.

The arrest of four men and a woman on Tuesday comes less than a week after PCSO arrested four others for similar crimes in the same two parks.

"At some point, folks have to realize that public parks are not the place for this kind of behavior. We make no secret that we conduct these types of investigations for a reason----so people will stop doing it. Families have a right to enjoy our beautiful public spaces without worrying about seeing lewd activity. We'll be out there again, and you know what? If someone is there doing what they shouldn't be doing, we're going to arrest them."- Grady Judd, Sheriff.

The following five people were arrested Tuesday:

Wesley Waltonbaugh, Jr. - 77, 333 Shore Drive, Eagle Lake
CHARGES: Solicit Another for Lewd Act (M-1) and Battery (M-1)

Sandra Woods - 55, 212 Bridgers Ave. E, Auburndale
CHARGES: Offering to Commit Prostitution (M-2) and Offer Another to Engage in a Lewd Act (M-2)
Woods has a prior prostitution and shoplifting arrest.
Ronald Findlay - 73, 128 Mason St., Auburndale
CHARGES: Offering to Commit Prostitution (M-2) and Offer Another to Engage in a Lewd Act (M-2)

Curtis Kemp - 30, 104 Bishop St., Auburndale
CHARGES: Offer to Commit Lewd Act (M-2) and Indecent Exposure (M-1)
Kemp's prior criminal history includes: Grand Theft (3), Possession of Marijuana (3), Possession of Paraphernalia, Probation Violation (2), and DWLSR

Donald Eby - 78, 1465 Deverly Dr., Lakeland
CHARGES: Offer to Commit Lewd Act (M-2)