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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.
Sep 30, 2025
Three arrested following lackadaisical burglary attempt
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
A man sitting on his porch with his wife stopped a burglary and theft on Monday afternoon, September 29th, 2025, when he confronted the thief and told him to put the stolen item back.
The crime occurred at around 3:00 pm in the Eloise Woods East Lake Mariam area of Winter Haven.
The witnesses watched as 31-year old Rusty Waddle got into an unlocked work vehicle and stole an air compressor.
The Good Samaritan got off his porch, approached Rusty, and told him to put the air compressor back, which Rusty did.
The witness then told the worker whose truck had been burgled, and he also called the PCSO to report Rusty's actions.
A deputy soon arrived in the neighborhood and went to the residence where Rusty resides.
It took numerous attempts before two occupants finally came to the door. They were identified as 26-year old Ashleigh Jarvis and 29-year old Justin Smith.
Ashleigh told the deputies that nobody else was inside. That was a lie.
Deputies found Rusty Waddle hiding in a bedroom closet and he was arrested, along with Ashleigh and Justin. All three were taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center.
Rusty Waddle was charged with: Burglary, Petit Theft, Resisting, and Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia.
Justin and Ashleigh were both charged with Resisting. Ashleigh also caught a charge for Giving False Information to LEO.