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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.
Apr 3, 2025
Lakeland woman arrested for DUI; she was stopped with a small child in the car
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a Lakeland woman just after midnight Thursday, April 3, 2025, for driving under the influence with a child in her vehicle.
32-year old Diana El Qreish of Lakeland was charged with: Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol (DUI), DUI with a Passenger Under 18yrs, Negligent Child Abuse, Refusal to Submit to DUI Test, and Failure to Notify HSMV Change of Address. She was also cited for driving with only one functional headlight, driving in the median, violation of DL restrictions, and driving with an expired tag.
A PCSO deputy initiated a traffic stop on El Qreish's 2017 Honda Accord on Harden Boulevard near Alamo Drive in Lakeland, after noticing that it only had one headlight, and it began traveling in the median.
The deputy observed Ms. El Qreish with watery, bloodshot eyes, and her breath smelled of alcoholic beverage.
A small child was a passenger in the vehicle. Deputies transferred the child into the custody of a family member.
A Field Sobriety Test on Ms. El Qreish revealed multiple clues of impairment, and she was arrested for DUI and transported to the jail.
At the jail, Diana El Qreish refused to submit to a Breath-Alcohol test.