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.

Apr 18, 2025

OIDI task force investigates officer-involved shooting in Bartow

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

The Officer-Involved Deadly Incident (OIDI) task force for the 10th Judicial
Circuit is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred around 5:25 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025, in the parking lot of the Atkins Building on North Broadway in Bartow.

Sheriff Grady Judd and Bartow Police Chief Steve Walker gave preliminary details about the investigation here: https://youtu.be/26Y-vsItf_0

There were two BPD officers involved, and a PCSO deputy sheriff.

The deputy is Edwin “Ed” Alexander, and he has been a deputy for 30 years (hired in May 1995). The BPD officers involved are Mark Sills and Vincent Agostino.

Deputy Alexander and Officer Sills were both shot, and transported to local hospitals where they are in good condition.

The suspect, 34-year-old Wayne Volz (DOB 07/18/90) is deceased. He has a criminal history that includes previous arrests for battery domestic violence, larceny, burglary, violation of probation, and failure to appear.

Per standard protocol, there are four investigations currently underway: an
independent investigation by the 10th Judicial Circuit's Officer Involved
Deadly Incident (OIDI) Task Force; an internal investigation by the PCSO
Administrative Investigations Unit; the Polk County Medical Examiner conducts
the autopsy to determine the manner and cause of death; and all investigative
findings are forwarded to the 10th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office
for their investigation and review.