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.

Jun 26, 2026

Davenport woman arrested and charged with 10 counts animal cruelty and neglect

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Media Relations Administrator

A Davenport woman who was arrested during a traffic stop has been additionally charged with 10 counts of animal cruelty and neglect after a family member located five severely neglected dogs and one deceased dog in her yard.

33-year-old Caroline Kanyamauri (DOB 11/17/1992) was arrested by the Davenport Police Department on June 24, 2026, and charged with five traffic-related misdemeanors. While taking her into custody, Kanyamauri asked DPD officers if she could call her sister to respond to her (Kanyamauri's) residence to check on her dogs due to the fact that she would be in jail.

After the sister arrived at Kanyamauri's home the next day, she contacted law enforcement regarding the conditions in which she found the animals.

In the backyard, deputies located a black wire kennel containing the decomposing remains of a deceased dog, and four live puppies contained on a porch covered in feces. There was also an adult male dog inside the home with visible ribs and bone structure. The five living dogs appeared to be malnourished and infested with parasites. A full medical exam of all of the animals is ongoing at Polk County Animal Control.

PCSO Animal Cruelty Investigators added-on the following charges to Kanyamauri, who is in the Polk County Jail:

5 counts animal cruelty (M1)
5 counts animal neglect (M1)
1 count unlawful disposal of a dead animal (M2)

"We are grateful to this suspect's family member for contacting law enforcement when she encountered what were clearly severely neglected and malnourished pets, in time for us to rescue these puppies and dog and return them to health. It is our hope that they go to loving homes as soon as they are rehabilitated, and that Ms. Kanyamauri is not allowed to own animals again." – Grady Judd, Sheriff