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.

Mar 8, 2025

Woman arrested for driving without a valid license and fleeing to elude while out on bond for driving without a valid license and fleeing to elude

A Frostproof woman was arrested on Thursday, March 6, 2025, after she made two separate attempts to flee deputies during attempted traffic stops.

At about 5:09 pm, a deputy attempted a traffic stop on a silver Ford Mustang on Masterpiece Road in Lake Wales. The driver refused to stop, and sped away from the deputy.

Another deputy saw the same vehicle a short time later and also attempted a traffic stop, but the driver again sped away from the deputy.

Due to the driver's reckless disregard for other motorists, a deputy found a safe area and immobilized the vehicle with a PIT maneuver.

The driver was identified as 35-year old Kristin Ann Mittelstadt.

Mittlestadt was arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with: Fleeing to Elude, Possession of Methamphetamine and Drug Paraphernalia, and Knowingly Driving While License Suspended/Revoked (her license was revoked in 2009).

Mittlestadt told deputies that she fled because she knew that if she got caught, she would likely be going to jail for a long time. She may have thought that due to the fact that she was already out on bond for Fleeing to Elude and Knowingly Driving While License Suspended/Revoked.