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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.
Dec 4, 2018
Man who arranged to have sex with a 14-year-old becomes the 104th person arrested in vice operation conducted by the Polk County Sheriff's Office
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
On Monday night, December 3, 2018, 49-year-old William Welch turned himself in to deputies from the Orange County Sheriff's Office for a Polk County warrant. His arrest came after Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced earlier that day, that 103 people were arrested in Operation Naughty - Not Nice II, which focused on human trafficking and prostitution.Welch became the 104th arrest in the operation.
Welch unknowingly communicated with undercover detectives, thinking he was arranging a meeting with a 14-year-old girl to have sex. Welch traveled to the meeting place, but did not make contact at the residence. Detectives recovered his car at the scene.
"This is a man who posed a great danger to the public, particularly children. It was his intention to meet a child to fulfill his sick fantasies. He came to the neighborhood, but he was suspicious, so he started looking around and left in the dark of night without his car. We have his car, and we'll soon have him in our jail too." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Welch has been charged with: Travel to meet a minor (F2), Use Computer to Seduce, Solicit, Lure a Child (F3), Use Two-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F3), and Lewd Battery - Attempted (F3).