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.

Jan 27, 2025

Dundee man arrested for DUI after crashing into PCSO deputy

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

A Dundee man was arrested Sunday morning, January 26, 2025, after he crashed his vehicle into a deputy's patrol car that was stopped with its emergency lights activated.

The deputy was stopped in front of Miracle Toyota on US 27 in Haines City, to assist with a disabled vehicle.

At about 12:50 am, a red Toyota Tacoma pickup truck crashed into the driver's side of the deputy's patrol car while the deputy was sitting in the driver's seat.

The driver of the Tacoma was identified as 53-year old Justin Watkins of Dundee.

Deputies at the scene said that Watkins had bloodshot, watery eyes, smelled of alcohol, and stumbled as a he walked.

Watkins was arrested on suspicion of DUI, and taken to the Polk County Jail.

At the jail, Watkins provided two breath samples which showed him to have a breath-alcohol content of 0.189g/210L and 0.192g/210L.

Justin Watkins was charged with DUI higher than 0.15, DUI with Property Damage, and Possession of more than one Florida Driver's License.

Nobody was injured from the crash.