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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 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.
May 11, 2026
Nightclub customer follows female employee and attacks her
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a man in Davenport after he followed a woman after she left her place of employment then attacked her.
At around 2:15 am Sunday, May 10, 2026, a dancer at a club in Lake County left work and began traveling south on US 27 into Polk County. The woman noticed a Chevy pickup truck following her closely.
The victim recognized the driver as a customer from the club where she works. He was later identified as 23-year-old Jaden Richard of Haines City.
The victim said that Jaden tried to get her to pull over and told her to return money that he sent to her via Cash App.
Jaden then drove his truck at the victim's vehicle, striking it, and causing damage.
The victim drove away from Jaden and pulled over at a gas station on US 27 in the Davenport area.
She reported that while she was at the gas station, Jaden showed up and attacked her through her open window. She said that he grabbed her throat, and punched her.
During the struggle, the victim used her mace and sprayed Jaden, but he grabbed the mace, which was attached to her key chain, and he fled in his truck.
The victim called 911.
Responding PCSO deputies located Jaden's Chevy truck within minutes near Posner Park and he was arrested.
The keys and mace were found behind the driver's seat of the Jaden's truck.
Jaden Richard was charged with: Burglary with Battery (F1), Robbery by Sudden Snatching (F3), Aggravated Assault with a Deadly Weapon (F3), Following/Harassing (F3), Felony Criminal Mischief (F3).