A joint investigation involving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Central Florida HIDTA Task Force (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas), and the Drug Enforcement Administration has resulted in multiple federal indictments by the United States Attorney’s Office and the arrests of … read more.

A record meth bust in Polk County had its origins earlier this month in Frostproof, the sheriff’s office said last week. On Friday, May 3, what appeared to be a “routine” traffic stop near the city resulted in the largest … read more.

April 22 Gregory Lanier, 35, of 63 Princeton Avenue — charged with failure to appear. Derrick Underwood, 29, of 792 Fir Avenue — charged with battery. April 23 John Peavy, 46, of N. 402 Scenic Hwy. — charged with possession … read more.

The Florida Highway Patrol is conducting driver license and vehicle inspection checkpoints this month. Troopers will concentrate efforts on vehicles being operated with bad brakes, worn tires and defective lighting equipment. In Polk County troopers will be stationed at State … read more.

Polk crime rate is at a historic low. Polk County’s crime rate in the unincorporated areas and contract cities dropped from 2010 to 2011, according to the Uniform Crime Report statistics. The crime rate, which is the number of crimes … read more.

Prosecutors say a 19-year-old man should be executed for killing a central Florida police  officer in December. The state attorney’s office in Polk County will seek the death penalty for Kyle Williams in the  Dec. 18 slaying of 25-year-old Lakeland … read more.

Attorney General Pam Bondi presented Polk County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sheriff Michael Braswell the 2011 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year award at a ceremony Tuesday, Feb. 7, at the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. Braswell, an 11-year veteran of … read more.

The death of a man who died of what may be a heart attack in the Central County Jail Friday is under investigation. Anthony Dale McKnight, 40, of Haines City, was pronounced dead at Bartow Regional Medical Center at 8:09 … read more.

It’s been 10 years since the Move Over law went into effect to try to ensure the safety of emergency personnel on the sides of the road. But even with this law, 170 law enforcement officers in the country have … read more.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office will hold tryouts for its volunteer Mounted Search and Recovery Team on Saturday, Jan. 21, at Combee Arena in Lakeland. The MSART volunteers work with sworn deputy sheriffs during deployments where horses and riders are … read more.