14 Sex Offenders, Predators Arrested In Polk County On Halloween

POLK COUNTY, FL — Fourteen registered sex offenders and predators were arrested on Halloween during the Polk County Sheriff's Office's Halloween initiative aimed at ensuring that registered offenders are complying with the conditions of their probation.

Members of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Special Victims Unit, Crime Suppression Team and the Florida Department of Corrections knocked on the doors of registered offenders and predators to make sure they were adhering to rules requiring them to register their correct addresses and to remind them not to open their doors and give out candy to kids on Halloween.

During the initative, detectives charged 14 offenders and predators with failing to comply with sex offender registrations laws, violations of probation and other charges.

"Protecting our children is a top priority, and our detectives work hard year-round to keep track of convicted sexual offenders and predators who reside in Polk County to ensure they remain compliant with the law," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Parents and community members are concerned about predators and offenders being around children, especially during events and holidays like Halloween. That is why every year we conduct initiatives like this one to show sex offenders and predators that we take every one of the requirements seriously, and failure to comply will result in an arrest."

There are 1,238 sexual offenders and 147 sexual predators registered in Polk County. These offenders and predators are checked every quarter by Polk detectives to ensure they are in compliance with Florida’s sexual offender/predator registration laws, Grady said. The state only requires a yearly check.

During the Halloween initiative, detectives spent 176 hours conducting 990 compliance checks, finding 951 in compliance and 39 who were not in compliance.