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 Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. 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.

Dec 2, 2024

Illegal garbage dump identified by disposed-of previous arrest paperwork

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A Davenport man was arrested for felony illegal dumping after a Polk County Sheriff's Office detective found the man's arrest affidavit from 2022 within the discarded garbage.

Deputies found bags of garbage and clothing illegally dumped in the area of Student Drive and Tank Road in unincorporated Davenport.

During an examination of the garbage a 2022 PCSO arrest affidavit for Walter Castro, Jr. was found.

The PCSO detective went to Castro's residence at the Palm Key Village mobile home park to speak with Mr. Castro.

The 39-year old's neighborhood is adjacent to Tank Road.

Castro admitted to dumping his garbage along the roadway for the past few weeks, and said that he didn't think it was a big deal.

The detective arrested Castro and took him to the Polk County Jail, where he was charged with Felony Illegal Dumping (F3).

Walter Castro now has a new arrest affidavit that the PCSO hopes he disposes of properly.