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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 11, 2019
Florida Polytechnic Police Officer arrested on sexual battery, extortion, and aggravated stalking of a family member
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
On Thursday, January 10, 2019, the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a police officer employed by Florida Polytechnic University in Lakeland. 57-year-old Winfred "Carl" Stocks, Jr. of Auburndale was arrested around noon, and charged with Sexual Battery with Threat or Force (F-1), Extortion or Threats (F-2), Domestic Aggravated Stalking (F-3).
The victim first approached a PCSO deputy on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 about the allegations that were said to be consistently occurring since the fall of 2012.
The victim produced hundreds of text messages from the past six months that showed Stocks displayed a control and influence over her and he frequently intimidated, isolated, and humiliated her.
"Carl Stocks betrayed this woman, and he betrayed his oath as a police officer to protect people. He systematically controlled the victim by maliciously stalking, threatening, and both verbally and physically controlling her for sex." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
According to the arrest affidavit, Stocks used "force or violence likely to cause serious personal injury" to sexually batter the woman. He "verbally and by written communication, maliciously threatened" her into having sex with him by threatening to publicly share nude photos of her, which he had acquired surreptitiously. Stocks also repeatedly harassed and cyberstalked the victim by text messaging.
Carl Stocks had been employed by Florida Polytech University for approximately 2 ½ years, and tendered his resignation from the university at the time of his arrest. He had previously retired from the Nashville (TN) Metro Police Department (from 1994 to 2011).