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.

Sep 30, 2026

Traffic stop leads to capture of wanted suspect

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

A Lake Wales man who had been on the run since 2023 is now in the Polk County Jail following a traffic stop for broken tail lights.

At around 8:45 pm on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, a PCSO deputy conducted a traffic stop on a white Ford Ranger in the area of Rifle Range Road and State Road 60, south of Wahneta.

The driver was identified as 42-year-old Thomas Kenneth James of Lake Wales, and he immediately admitted to the deputy that his license was suspended.

A background inquiry by the deputy revealed that James' license had been suspended since 2008.

It also showed that James had an active Polk County warrant from 2023 for Armed Kidnapping (F1), Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F3), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (F2), and Felony Battery (F3).

After being taken into custody, Thomas informed the deputy that he was going to flee from the traffic stop, and then he saw a second deputy's patrol vehicle pulling up to the traffic stop and decided to cooperate instead.

Thomas James was booked-in at the Sheriff's Processing Center on his warrant and additionally charged with Driving While License Suspended/Revoked (M1).