News and Investigations

On Thursday, June 11, 2026, a Polk County Sheriff's Traffic deputy conducting traffic enforcement in the area of U.S. Hwy 27 and Peace Creek Park Road in Lake Wales observed a 2025 BMW sedan heading northbound on Hwy 27 at a high rate of speed. The radar measured the vehicle's speed at 100 MPH in a 60 MPH zone. The driver, 49-year-old Joseph Olivera of Winter Haven, was also aggressively weaving through traffic across all three lanes, causing other motorists to brake and swerve in order to avoid collisions. 

The deputy conducted a traffic stop and confirmed Olivera's license has been revoked since 2022, with 13 active suspensions due to DUI, refusal to submit to a breath test, criminal failure to pay citations, failure to appear for multiple court summons, and failure to pay child support.

During the interaction with the deputy, Olivera exhibited several signs of impairment and had several open containers of alcohol in his car. He refused to provide a breath sample.

Olivera was taken into custody and charged with:

DUI 3rd or subsequent offense (F3)

Driving while license suspended or revoked - habitual (F3)

Refusal to submit breath sample (M1)

Dangerous excessive speeding (M2) 

“I'm not sure how many more times this suspect needs to be put behind bars to learn the errors of his ways - it's miraculous he hasn't killed someone else or himself with his history of DUI charges and illegal driving. If you see him behind the wheel of a vehicle, please dial 911 so we can get him off the road as quickly as possible.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff