LAKE WALES – A Polk County School Board employee has been arrested after allegedly stealing her father’s safe containing nearly $1,800 in cash, prescription medication, and legal documents — then fleeing the scene in her school bus.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to a residence in Lake Wales on October 3, 2025, in reference to a theft. Upon arrival, deputies spoke with victims Allen Keith Tyson and Michelle Tyson.
Allen told deputies he had asked his daughter, Shanon Nacole Powell, who works as a school bus driver for the Polk County School Board, to come to his home and pick up a gun to bring to one of his friends for safekeeping while he was in the hospital.
Powell went to the residence as requested but could not find the gun. She later learned that Allen had already given the gun to his friend before entering the hospital.
While at the residence, Powell and Michelle became involved in a verbal altercation. Michelle told deputies she did not want to argue, so she grabbed her keys and left the residence to avoid further confrontation.
A few minutes later, Michelle returned to the residence to retrieve her safe and dogs. When she arrived, she observed Powell standing outside a truck parked in front of the residence.
Michelle said she placed the safe—which contained the title to Allen’s land property, prescription medication, and approximately $1,800 in cash—into the backseat of her blue 2021 Chevrolet Equinox using the rear passenger door. She briefly turned her back to get her dogs, and when she turned back around, she saw Powell inside the backseat of the vehicle, entering through the opposite rear door, removing money from the safe.
Michelle told deputies she attempted to stop Powell, but Powell took the cash and the safe and then left the scene in her work vehicle, identified as a Polk County School Board bus.
Allen and Michelle stated that Powell did not have permission to enter the vehicle or remove the safe and money.
The property reportedly taken included:
One black fire safe valued at $69 $1,800 cash
Total value: $1,869
Following the investigation, deputies determined that Powell violated the following Florida Statutes:
F.S.S. 810.02(4)(b): Burglary – unoccupied conveyance, unarmed F.S.S. 812.014(2)(c)1: Grand Theft – greater than $750, less than $5,000
Powell was arrested on related charges.
