Polk County Tax Collector Joe G. Tedder issued a statement expressing shock and sadness after an employee was accused of secretly recording female co-workers inside an employee-only restroom in Bartow.
Incident Details & Investigation
- The Discovery: An employee at the Tax Collector’s Information Technology building located a small hidden camera concealed inside a disposable toilet seat cover dispenser in the women’s restroom.
- Identification: Detectives with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office reviewed footage stored on the camera’s SD card, which showed a man installing the device. Staff members identified the suspect as Sean Michael Krause, a 60-year-old IT manager for the facility.
- Victims: The memory card contained multiple video recordings showing at least three female employees recorded without their knowledge or consent.
Suspect’s Death
- After confessing to a witness at his Lakeland home, Krause left behind his mobile phone and medication before fleeing.
- A park ranger located his vehicle at Colt Creek State Park. Inside the car, investigators recovered a written suicide note.
- Deputies discovered Krause’s body in a wooded area of the park on September 22, 2026. Authorities stated that he apparently died by suicide.
- Sheriff Grady Judd noted that had Krause survived, he would have faced multiple felony counts of digital video voyeurism.
Statements from Officials
Tax Collector Joe Tedder
Tedder stated that he was deeply disturbed and saddened by the incident, emphasizing that his main focus is supporting the affected staff. He confirmed that Krause was fired immediately upon being identified as the suspect, praising his staff for their rapid response and cooperation with law enforcement. He requested that the community keep the impacted workers in their thoughts and prayers.
Sheriff Grady Judd
Sheriff Judd highlighted the severity of digital voyeurism and commended the Tax Collector’s Office for acting swiftly to report the situation and preserve evidence.