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.

Jan 25, 2021

Lakeland elementary school custodian arrested for domestic violence

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A 66-year-old Lakeland man was arrested Sunday afternoon by the Polk County Sheriff's Office for a domestic violence charge of battery on a person over the age of 65 (F3).

The victim told the responding deputy that Jamie Collazo Gonzalez grabbed the victim by the neck and pushed her. The victim was not injured.

Mr. Collazo Gonzalez told deputies that he is currently employed by Griffin Elementary School in Lakeland as a custodian.

"People who work in a position of public trust are held to a higher standard, and rightly so. In this particular case, this man was arrested for a violent act. Losing his temper and becoming violent is not acceptable behavior for anyone, especially someone who is around a lot of children each day." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Please direct any inquiries regarding Mr. Collazo Gonzalez's employment to the Polk County Public Schools.