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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.

May 29, 2026

Middle school student arrested for multiple felonies related to bomb threats at his school

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Media Relations Administrator

The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a 14-year-old middle school student from Lakeland Highlands Middle School after he was positively identified as the suspect who made multiple bomb threats at his school this past school year.

Click here for sound from Sheriff Judd on this arrest.

Adrian Allison, who is on probation for grand theft of a motor vehicle, is being charged with:

6 counts false report of a bomb (F2)
6 counts unlawful use of 2-way communication device (F3)
6 counts misuse of 911 (M1)
Disruption of school function (M2)
Violation of probation (M2)

On May 27, 2026, the Lakeland Police Department received five 911 calls from an unknown male stating he was going to "blow up this place," referring to the school. LPD confirmed the calls came from inside the school. A sixth call was made to the PCSO Emergency Communications Center. During the calls the caller also stated "I have a bomb."

A special agent with the FBI responded to the school to assist with identifying the phone number from which the calls came. Through investigative resources it was determined that the phone number was registered to Adrian Allison, whom school staff and the school resource deputy confirmed is a student at Lakeland Highlands Middle.

Detectives interviewed Allison, and he told them that he made the calls because "he was bored in class and thought it was a funny joke."

"Threats to blow up a school or commit any act of violence on a school campus are incredibly serious, and anyone who makes them will be charged with the appropriate felonies. Parents, remember to educate your children that this type of behavior will absolutely not be tolerated. Unfortunately this teenager is already heading down the wrong path." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

"There is no excuse for making a threat against our students, staff, and schools. We will thoroughly investigate every instance, and the consequences are extremely serious. If you make a threat, it will have long-lasting, life-altering impacts on your future. We thank the Polk County Sheriff's Office for their professional and swift handling of this matter."-- Frederick Heid, Superintendent of Polk County Public Schools

Allison was booked in at the Juvenile Assessment Center and is being held in the juvenile dorm at the Polk County Jail.