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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 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.
Nov 3, 2025
Woman robs disabled man in Auburndale
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
37-year old Crystle Renee Rodgers of Auburndale has three petit theft convictions in the last five years, but the crimes she's accused of committing on Saturday, November 1st are much more serious.
At around 3:15 pm that day, a disabled man reported that he was approached by an unknown female holding a box cutter on 2nd Street in Auburndale.
The woman demanded the victim give her his money, but he refused, and she pushed him down and took his wallet.
The woman removed $55 in cash and a bank card, then tossed the wallet.
Before the card could be deactivated, the woman made six fraudulent charges worth about $144 (total).
About an hour after the robbery, PCSO deputies located Crystle Rodgers, who matched the suspect's description, and the victim was able to positively identify her as the woman who attacked him.
The bank card was found by deputies in the yard of a residence nearby.
Crystle Rodgers was arrested and taken to the Sheriff's Processing Center where she was charged with: Robbery with a Weapon, Fraudulent Use of Personal ID, Felony Petit Theft, Tampering with Evidence, and Unlawful Possession of Personal ID.