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 24, 2018

Tenoroc High School Student Arrested for Bringing Loaded Gun to School

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

On Wednesday, January 24, 2018, PCSO School Resource deputies arrested 16-year-old Terrika Nichole Whitfield (DOB 1/5/02), a freshman at Tenoroc High School in unincorporated Lakeland, and charged her with:

possession of a firearm by a juvenile delinquent (F-2)
possession of a weapon on school grounds (F-2)
possession of a concealed firearm (F-3)
possession of a firearm with an altered/removed serial number (M-1)
disruption of a school function (M-2)
resisting arrest (M-1)
VOP (M-2)

According to the affidavit, Whitfield was seen by students with a gun tucked into her waistband. Some students reported it to school administration staff, who immediately reported it to the School Resource Deputy. The deputy responded to Whitfield's classroom and searched her - the gun was not on her at that time. When asked, Whitfield told the deputy she did not have a backpack. The teacher then pointed out Whitfield's backpack to the deputy. A 9 mm handgun was found within the backpack, with one round in the magazine, and one round in the chamber. The serial number was scratched off of the gun.

At the time the gun was found, Whitfield became aggressive, cursing and yelling at everyone. She was taken into custody and transported to the JAC.

She's currently on probation for battery on a LEO and assault.

Whitfield's criminal history includes prior arrests for: battery, battery on LEO, battery on education employee, petit theft, possession of marijuana & paraphernalia, VOP.

"The school staff and our school resource deputy did an outstanding job quickly locating and confiscating the weapon. Given the seriousness of this student's criminal history and current charges, we are going to do everything we can to make sure the criminal justice system holds her accountable." - Grady Judd, Sheriff