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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.

May 14, 2026

Couple arrested while fueling up a stolen car at the Auburndale Wawa

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

On Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at around 10:47 pm, a stolen 2015 Toyota Rav4 was located at the WaWa store in Auburndale and a male and female were arrested.

Units from the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Auburndale Police Department quickly moved in and blocked the vehicle while it was stopped at the fuel pump.

The two suspects in the vehicle were detained: 37-year-old Juan Hector Mugica of Orlando and 35-year-old Kaycha Lynn Rivera of Bradenton.

Rivera only said, "lawyer" to the deputies. Meanwhile, Mugica said "I was not driving," despite deputies seeing him in the driver's side.

Mugica's driver's license was canceled back in 2013 and he is listed as a habitual traffic offender. He was also found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Volusia County. It was towed from the scene and will be turned over to its owner.

Deputies arrested both suspects and took them to the Sheriff's Processing Center to be booked-in.

Mugica was charged with Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3), Driving While License Suspended/Revoked - Habitual (F3), Possession of Marijuana (M1), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (M1), and Refusing to Sign a Criminal Summons (M2).

Rivera was charged with Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F3).