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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.
Feb 3, 2025
Traffic stop leads to recovery of two missing/endangered children from St. Pete
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A traffic stop by PCSO deputies in Polk City led to the recovery of two missing & endangered children from St. Petersburg.
On Saturday, February 1st, at about 5:20 pm, a traffic stop was performed on a red 2003 Mercury Mountaineer, at 1060 Commonwealth Avenue in Polk City.
The driver was identified as 34-year old Twanda Neal, and the front-seat passenger was identified as 50-year old Anthony Davis, both from St. Petersburg.
Twanda Neal had a warrant out of Pinellas County for child abuse.
In the back-seat of the car were the two missing/endangered children.
During the traffic stop, Twanda called 911, and stated that she was scared for her life.
Deputies told Neal to hang-up the phone and exit the vehicle, but she continually refused. and resisted.
As a deputy worked to remove Neal from the car, Davis struck the deputies multiple times.
Twanda Neal and Anthony Davis were both arrested, and the two children were turned over to the Florida Department of Children & Families.
Neal was arrested on the Pinellas County warrant and additionally charged with misuse of 911 and resisting. Davis was charged with battery on LEO (2-counts) and resisting with violence.