Polk County Sheriff's Office, FL

This article covers the arrest of two suspects by the Polk County Sheriff's Office for an armed robbery on Christmas Day in Davenport, Florida. 

🎉 Happy New Year, Polk County! 🎉 As we ring in 2025, we're answering one of the Top 10 Questions People Ask About Working in Law Enforcement: What qualifications do I need to become a law enforcement officer? To start, you’ll need a high school diploma or GED. From there, academy training includes meeting the Physical Fitness Test (PFT) standards, which typically involve: Push-ups: Measuring upper body strength. Sit-ups: Evaluating core strength. 1.5-mile run: Testing cardiovascular endurance. Obstacle course: Demonstrating agility, speed, and adaptability. Dummy drag or carry: Simulating an injured-person rescue. The hiring process also includes a background investigation and testing, such as: The Criminal Justice Basic Abilities Test (CJBAT): Assessing the foundational skills needed to succeed in the academy. Additional steps at some agencies may involve a polygraph, CVSA, psychological evaluation, physical agility test, medical screening, oral boards, and interviews with staff. It might sound rigorous, but each step is designed to prepare you for a rewarding career in law enforcement. Don’t doubt yourself—this could be the year you take the first step toward your dream! From all of us at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, we wish you a safe and prosperous New Year! 🥳#NewYear2025 #ServeWithPride #PolkStrong

This holiday season was especially bright for a local travel lacrosse team, Sweetlax Lacrosse who celebrated an impressive achievement at the IMLCA Summit here in Florida. With a stellar 5-1 record, they triumphed over teams from New York, New Jersey, Michigan, and Canada. As one of the largest and most competitive recruiting events of the year, the IMLCA Summit draws every Division I coach, including powerhouse programs like Duke, North Carolina, Virginia, Harvard, Army, and Cornell. Special congratulations go to the team under the leadership of Deputy Matthew Maccario, one of our own, for this outstanding performance. May this success bring you much-deserved holiday cheer and continued achievements in the new year.

The article discusses the recent arrest of Awny Abdel Malek Basta, a 57-year-old man, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office for allegedly groping a 16-year-old girl at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in Lakeland, Florida. This incident highlights his history as a repeat offender, with multiple prior arrests in Lakeland and Tennessee for similar offenses. The article emphasizes the importance of community vigilance and safety measures in public spaces, urging potential victims to come forward. It also underscores the lengths restaurant employees were willing to go this holiday season to seek justice.

Donald Mitchell, a former teacher at Kathleen High School and current Community Outreach Facilitator, has been arrested for engaging in an inappropriate relationship with a student while in a position of authority. The victim, now 19, revealed the relationship began in 2023 during her time as a student and continued after her graduation. Text message evidence uncovered by PCSO Special Victims and Computer Crimes Units revealed Mitchell’s misuse of his authority and trust. He has been charged with sexual offenses against a student by an authority figure and placed on administrative leave pending investigation. One such message from Mitchell to the victim, sent on Valentine’s Day of this year, read, “I’m here to grow and groom you into what [I] know you’re capable of being!” Other messages include: ·    February 14, 2024 – Mitchell to victim: “If you cared youd listen and youd let me see you” ·    February 15, 2024 – Mitchell to victim: “I got a lot to lose” and “Just know I love you and I want our relationship to remain solid regardless of whatever” ·    February 17, 2024 – Mitchell to victim: “I love you [redacted]” ·    February 20, 2024 – Mitchell to victim: “Please don’t play with me bruh you have my life damn near in your hands…im taking a huge risk” and “I FaceTime you because I wanna see you I reach out because I wanna talk to you. Ive always gave you game and built you up because I care about you…I told you I love you…no pressure though” ·    February 24, 2024 – Mitchell to victim: “you think im press for p****” and “Come outside” Polk County Schools and PCSO emphasize zero tolerance for abuse of trust. Protecting students and maintaining community safety remains the priority. “Using one’s position of authority and trust over a student is egregious. Students rely on teachers to be educators and mentors, and Mitchell abused this trust by turning the relationship between him and his student sexual. This type of behavior will not be tolerated.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Polk County deputies arrested 51-year-old Thomas Griffin, a middle school teacher at McLaughlin Middle School in Lake Wales, on charges of burglary with assault, false imprisonment, and battery by strangulation. Griffin allegedly forced his way into a home on December 14, 2024, and violently attacked a man in the presence of the victim's girlfriend and her child. The victim was hospitalized with injuries, including a strangulation attempt and facial trauma. Sheriff Grady Judd stated: "The suspect forced his way into the home and violently attacked the victim. As a teacher, hopefully, a former teacher, Griffin holds a position of trust in our community—a trust that has been severely broken. School students should not be exposed to this kind of potential volatile behavior.” Polk County Public Schools has placed Griffin on administrative leave pending further investigation. This case highlights the importance of accountability in leadership roles, especially in education. #CommunityTrust #LawEnforcement #Accountability

Polk County Sheriff's deputies arrested a Clermont woman after witnessing reckless driving in a school zone outside Ridgeview Global Studies in Davenport. The 23-year-old suspect, Lara Alexandre, was stopped for speeding while distracted by an iPad and not wearing a seatbelt. Deputies discovered her license had been suspended and found marijuana and drug paraphernalia in her vehicle. During the arrest and booking process, Alexandre became combative, assaulting deputies and resisting custody. Charges include: Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer (2 counts) Resisting Arrest with Violence Possession of Marijuana & Paraphernalia Driving with a Suspended License "I don't know if Ms. Alexandre celebrates Christmas or not, but she's certainly not spreading joy this holiday season. She's done everything possible to ensure she'll be in the county jail instead of spending time with her family at Christmas. Here's a tip - if you're driving illegally, you probably shouldn't draw attention to yourself by speeding through a school zone while looking at a mobile device and not wearing your seatbelt." - Grady Judd, Sheriff  This incident highlights the importance of safe driving practices and respecting traffic laws, especially in school zones. #PublicSafety #CommunityFirst #LawEnforcement

On December 17, 2024, a Lakeland woman was arrested after leaving four young children (ages 10 months to 8 years) unattended in an idling vehicle outside a Winter Haven lounge. Deputies were called to the scene after lounge staff discovered the children in the parking lot. The suspect, Tiffany Shanta Simmons, was found inside, intoxicated and uncooperative. She was arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including: Negligent Child Abuse (4 counts) Battery on a Law Enforcement Officer Resisting Arrest with Violence The Florida Department of Children and Families was notified, and the children were safely returned to family members. "Leaving these children alone in a dimly lit parking lot while drinking inside is both infuriating and unacceptable." – Sheriff Grady Judd This case underscores the importance of child safety and community vigilance. #PublicSafety #Accountability #LawEnforcement

This month, our Northeast deputies and detectives were recognized with a Sheriff's Commendation for their exceptional work in solving a complex burglary case at Ritchie Brothers Auctioneers in Davenport. The investigation in May of 2024 revealed the suspects had cut a fence and removed CPU motherboards from multiple semi-trucks. A key breakthrough came when deputies discovered a sales receipt left behind in a suspect vehicle. Through strong collaboration with the Orlando Police Department, video footage from a sporting goods store helped identify leads. Further efforts by Northeast General Crimes detectives and the Osceola County Sheriff's Office led them to the Rodeway Inn in Kissimmee, where the suspects were located. A search warrant recovered burglary tools, critical evidence, and most stolen property. The suspects were from Texas and now face multiple charges, including: *Burglary of Conveyance (42 counts) *Burglary of a Structure *Conspiracy to Commit Burglary *Criminal Mischief *Grand Theft *Possession of Burglary Tools This case is a testament to thorough investigation, persistence, and multi-agency collaboration. Kudos to all involved for their dedication to justice and ensuring stolen property was returned! #Teamwork #LawEnforcement #PublicSafety #Collaboration

Today we are mourning the tragic and sudden loss of 32-year-old Gregory Maynard, a dual-certified deputy sheriff who died at his home yesterday. Please keep his family and friends in your prayers. “Deputy Maynard’s death is such a tragedy. Our thoughts, prayers, and support are with his family, friends, and coworkers. We are making sure Greg’s coworkers have access to both peer and professional counseling. I encourage anyone who may have feelings of self-harm to reach out for help. Florida operates an outstanding Suicide Prevention Lifeline—call or text 988 or reach out through chat by visiting 988lifeline.org/chat.” -- Grady Judd, Sheriff Click here to read the news release: https://lnkd.in/gQtE4ewN