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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 8, 2019
Two Lakeland teens arrested for multiple car burglaries and a stolen vehicle
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office arrested two teenage boys Monday, January 7, 2019 following an investigation of three car burglaries and a stolen vehicle from two neighborhoods off of Strickland Avenue in the Highland City area near Lakeland. Arrested were 16-year-old Dominic Provenzano, of 2762 Highlands Creek Drive in Lakeland, and 15-year-old Shain Gilkey, of 5520 3rd Street SE in Lakeland.
The investigation began Monday morning after the overnight burglaries were reported on Spoonbill Court and Dovehollow Drive. Deputies then learned that a 2016 Dodge Charger was also stolen. Each of the vehicles had been left unlocked, and several items were stolen from within.
Security video from the area was obtained which revealed two suspects, one wearing a tie-dyed hoodie and the other wearing a red hoodie.
Deputies located the parked Charger at the Highlands Apartments at 4211 Hancock Avenue in Lakeland, and watched as Provenzano walked toward the car, removed a key fob from his shorts, and unlocked the car with the fob.
Deputies quickly moved in, and detained Provenzano and Gilkey who were eventually arrested.
Despite having the fob in his shorts, Provenzano denied being involved, but Gilkey was cooperative and confessed that he and Provenzano were involved.
Provenzano and Gilkey were transported to the Juvenile Assessment Center in Bartow and charged with: Grand Theft Motor Vehicle (F-3), 3-Counts of Burglary of Conveyance (F-3), and 3-Counts of Petit Theft (M-2).
“These are not boys just being boys. These two are committing big boy adult crimes and need to be held accountable. Ironically, each one of the cars they got into were unlocked, but when they had possession of the stolen car, they kept it locked when they weren’t in it. Please folks, lock your cars.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Shain Gilkey’s criminal history consists of 12 Felony Charges and 7 Misdemeanor Charges, including prior charges of Burglary (4), Grand Theft of a Firearm, Grand Theft, Petit Theft (3), Probation Violation (5), Hindering Firefighter or Equipment, and Interfering with School Administration.
Dominic Provenzano’s criminal history consists of 4 Felony Charges and 4 Misdemeanor Charges, including the prior charge of Battery.
