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.

Mar 22, 2023

Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office detention deputy arrested for DUI charges in Polk County

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

37-year old Shastri Khan of Lakeland, a detention deputy for the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, was arrested on DUI charges Tuesday, March 21, 2023, by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. He was charged with: DUI with Property Damage/Personal Injury (M1, 3 counts) and DUI with BAC of 0.15 or Higher (M1).

The arrest is the result of a PCSO investigation of a four-vehicle crash that occurred on December 29, 2022 at around 9:42 pm, on Commonwealth Avenue in Polk City, near the intersection of Oak Avenue. At that time, Khan was cited for Careless Driving and for Open Container of Alcohol in Motor Vehicle pending a medical records subpoena for Khan’s blood. A sample of Khan’s blood from the hospital was submitted for testing. The results of the test were received last week and revealed that Khan’s Blood Alcohol Content was 0.289, over 3.6 times the statutory limit of 0.08.

“These blood alcohol results gave us the information we needed to charge him appropriately, in addition to the original charges. This is just one more reminder that driving while intoxicated leads to disastrous consequences—both for the innocent public, and for the drunk driver. ” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

Inquiries regarding Shastri Khan’s employment status should be directed to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.