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News and Investigations
News & Investigations
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 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 6, 2025
2 men in Corvettes raced in Mulberry; both lost by being arrested
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
Two men raced their Corvettes in the wrong time, at the wrong place. However, for the PCSO detectives who arrested them, it was the right place, at the right time.
On Friday, January 3, 2025, at around 11:12 am, two detectives were stopped at the intersection of Church Avenue and Virginia Street in Mulberry, when they noticed two Corvettes in front of them, side-by-side, revving their engines.
The two sports cars quickly accelerated to over 100mph, weaving around other vehicles, trying to best one another.
The detectives performed traffic stops on both Corvettes.
62-year old James Rivera from Lakeland was driving a silver 2005 Corvette, and 30-year old Alexander Snider of Bartow was driving a burgundy 2007 Corvette.
Rivera and Snider both denied racing, and were said to have been uncooperative with the detectives.
Despite their denials, both men were arrested and taken to the Polk County Jail and charged with racing (M1).