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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 Alicia Manautou. 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.

Jul 14, 2016

Operation Child Shield III

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO

During the month of July 2016, Polk County Sheriff's Computer Crimes detectives, along with partners from the Central Florida ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) task force, served search warrants, and made arrests during an undercover investigation "Operation Child Shield 3" focusing on the promotion, possession, and distribution of child pornography. 

A search warrant was executed in Lake Wales, where former PCSO Animal Control Officer 31-year-old Siul Pastor resides. Per Florida State Statute 119, addresses of current and former employees of law enforcement agencies are exempt from public record. Detectives received information that the suspect was in possession of files containing child pornography. During an on-scene preview of his computer equipment, detectives found three video files containing child pornography. Pastor was placed under arrest and charged with three (3) counts Possession of Child Pornography (F-2). Detectives will conduct a thorough forensic analysis of all equipment seized, and additional charges are pending. Pastor resigned from PCSO upon his arrest, and would have been terminated had he not resigned.  

A search warrant was executed at 1118 Chervil Drive in Kissimmee, where 64-year-old Juan Berrios lives. Berrios is a first grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary School in Poinciana, and also taught school in Massachusetts and Puerto Rico. Detectives received a NCMEC (National Center for Missing and Endangered Children) cybertip that Berrios uploaded child pornography files depicting children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. Detectives seized multiple computers from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located files depicting children as young as 6-8 months old. Berrios was taken into custody without incident and charged with 35 counts Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced (F-2). Per the Polk County School Board: Juan Berrios is a first-grade teacher at Palmetto Elementary, and was hired by Polk County Public Schools on Aug. 20, 2007. Upon his arrest, the Polk County School Board suspended him without pay. Superintendent Jacqueline M. Byrd will recommend that his employment be terminated at the July 26th meeting of the Polk County School Board. Juan Berrios does not have prior disciplinary action in his personnel file. 

A search warrant was executed at 120 Castellon Court in Davenport, where 70-year-old Robert "Gary" Willis lives. Willis told detectives he is a retired electrical engineer from Lockheed Martin, and he is married. Detectives received information that Willis was using a file sharing program to share videos containing child pornography depicting children between the ages of 7 and 10 years old. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located files depicting child pornography. Willis was taken into custody without incident and charged with 36 counts Promotion of Child Pornography (F-2), and two (2) counts Possession of Child Pornography (F-3).  

A search warrant was executed at 186 Timberpark Drive in Davenport, where 52-year-old Kevin Nazzaro lives. Nazarro told detectives he is a cook at Big River Grille and Brewing Works at Disney's Boardwalk. Detectives received information that Nazarro was using a file sharing program to share videos containing child pornography depicting children between the ages of 8 and 11 years old. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located files depicting child pornography. Nazarro was taken into custody without incident and charged with two (2) counts Promotion of Child Pornography (F-2), and one count Possession of Child Pornography (F-3).  

A search warrant was executed at 1806 Ruby Street in Lakeland, where 27-year-old Thursk Seepersad lives. Seepersad told detectives he is unemployed but was in the Navy from 2006-2011. Detectives received information that Seepersad uploaded a video containing child pornography. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located three (3) additional files depicting child pornography. Seepersad was taken into custody without incident and charged with four (4) counts Possession of Child Pornography (F-3).  

A search warrant was executed at 1572 Bowmans Trail in Lakeland, where 29-year-old Guillermo "Will" Torres III lives. Torres told detectives he works at Publix in the bakery warehouse. Detectives received information that Torres was downloading and viewing child pornography depicting children between the ages of 5 and 12 years old. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located 100 files depicting child pornography, with the youngest child victim believed to be approximately 18 months old. Torres was taken into custody without incident and charged with 100 counts Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced (F-2).  

A search warrant was executed at 109 Cherokee Drive in Auburndale, where 44-year-old Angel Rivera-Maldonado lives. Maldonado told detectives he works in housekeeping at Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge. Detectives received information that he was sharing files containing child pornography depicting children between the ages of 8 and 11 years old. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located 60 files depicting child pornography, with the youngest child victim believed to be approximately one year old. Maldonado was taken into custody without incident and charged with 60 counts Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced (F-2).  

On July 12, 2016, PCSO received information that 46-year-old Terry Drawdy* of 3625 Kathleen Rd Lot 9 in Lakeland was having sexual conversations via Facebook messenger with a 15-year-old Ohio girl. At Drawdy's direction, the child was sending Drawdy nude images of herself. Detectives positively identified the victim in Ohio, and contacted law enforcement there. They then responded to Drawdy's home. Post-Miranda, Drawdy told detectives he initiated contact with the victim approximately two months ago, and that they "talk about sex almost every day" via Facebook messenger. He received, and then deleted, nude images from the victim. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, will conduct forensic analysis on all of it. Drawdy was taken into custody without incident and charged with one count Possession of Child Pornography (F-3), one count Use of Computer to Seduce a Child (F-3), and one count Use of a Two-Way Communication Device to Commit Felony (F-3). His criminal history includes two arrests in 2006 by PCSO for Battery Domestic Violence and Aggravated Assault With A Firearm, and one arrest in 2008 by PCSO for Violation of Probation.  

A search warrant was executed at 323 Elm Street in Bartow, where 53-year-old James Ballone lives. Ballone told detectives he owns J&K Cleaning Service. Detectives seized computer equipment from the home, and during an initial preview of the equipment, located 65 files depicting child pornography. Ballone was taken into custody without incident and charged with 65 counts Possession of Child Pornography - Enhanced (F-2).