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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 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 18, 2024

Woman committing multiple traffic infractions in school zone arrested by deputies

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

Polk County Sheriff's deputies patrolling the school zone outside Ridgeview Global Studies on Dunson Road in Davenport arrested a Clermont woman after witnessing her commit several traffic infractions, and then learning she also had a suspended license and marijuana in her possession.

At 8:15 a.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2024, deputies saw 23-year-old Lara Alexandre driving a black Nissan at a high rate of speed through a school zone while holding and looking at an iPad, and not wearing her seatbelt. She told the deputy sheriff who performed the traffic stop that she didn't have her driver's license with her. When he ran her information through the database, he found that it was suspended in September 2024. 

During a search of her vehicle, deputies found marijuana and a grinder in her purse, and her suspended license in the car. As one deputy was taking her into custody, she became combative, and elbowed him in the chest.

When Alexandre arrived at the Sheriff's Processing Center in Winter Haven to be booked into jail, she became aggressive in the back of the patrol car and a detention deputy came out to assist the deputy sheriff with retrieving her from the vehicle. Alexandre bit that detention deputy on the arm and then tried to bite the deputy again.

In addition to her traffic citations, Alexandre was charged with two counts of battery on a law enforcement officer, three counts resisting arrest, two counts resisting arrest with violence, possession of marijuana and paraphernalia, possession of a suspended driver's license, and driving while license suspended.

"I don't know if Ms. Alexandre celebrates Christmas or not, but she's certainly not spreading joy this holiday season. In fact she's done everything possible to ensure she'll be in the county jail instead of spending time with her family at Christmas. Here's a tip - if you're driving illegally, you probably shouldn't draw attention to yourself by speeding through a school zone while looking at a mobile device and not wearing your seatbelt." - Grady Judd, Sheriff