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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 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.

Aug 19, 2026

Standoff in Auburndale ends with no injuries; suspect facing numerous felonies

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

An Auburndale woman who was already facing a felony charge of child abuse is now charged with nine additional felonies and four misdemeanors following an hour-and-a-half standoff with deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office.  

On Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at approximately 4:27 pm, PCSO deputies responded to a residence on Joey Drive in Auburndale to arrest 42-year-old Julie Marie Enos on an active Polk County felony warrant for Child Abuse. 

Deputies surrounded the residence and ordered Ms. Enos to approach law enforcement. Enos yelled back at the deputies, “You’re trespassing,” and then ran back inside the residence and lowered the window blinds.

Deputies repeatedly hailed Enos and ordered her to peacefully surrender. Multiple attempts were also made to contact Enos by telephone.

Enos approached a window while armed with a kitchen knife and shouted at deputies, making threatening stabbing motions toward deputies. 

The deputies made forced entry through the front door, as Enos ran upstairs and  pushed a nightstand down the staircase toward deputies.  

Enos then retreated into the master bedroom, closed the door, and began moving furniture in front of the door. 

Continued attempts were made to get Enos to surrender without success.
 
Chemical agents were deployed through a second-floor bedroom window in an attempt to compel Enos to exit, but despite multiple deployments, Enos continued refusing to surrender. 

Deputies made entry into the bedroom and took Enos into custody. She was subsequently transported to a hospital for medical evaluation and treatment. 

No deputies were injured. 
 
Julie Enos was additionally charged with Aggravated Assault on Law Enforcement Officer (F2, 3-counts), Threatening a Public Servant (F3, 3-counts), Resisting with Violence (F3, 3-counts), and Resisting without Violence (M1, 4-counts).