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News and Investigations
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 Alicia Manautou. 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.
May 15, 2018
Operation Pop Top Results
Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, PIO
On Monday, May 14, 2018, PCSO deputies, with the help of a volunteer Explorer*, conducted "Operation Pop Top" in the Winter Haven and Haines City areas, in an effort to combat the illegal sale of alcohol and tobacco to minors. 11 stores were checked, and 9 were in compliance.
Deputies arrested 61-year-old Vinod Sujanani of Kissimmee for one count sale of alcohol to a minor, for selling the high school Explorer an alcoholic beverage at the VM Foodmart located at 101 6th Street SE in Winter Haven, where Sujanani works.
Deputies also arrested 20-year-old Brooklyn Thompson of Haines City for one count sale of alcohol to a minor, for selling the high school Explorer an alcoholic beverage at the Racetrac located at 32886 US Hwy 27 in Haines City, where Thompson works.
Deputies arrested 61-year-old Vinod Sujanani of Kissimmee for one count sale of alcohol to a minor, for selling the high school Explorer an alcoholic beverage at the VM Foodmart located at 101 6th Street SE in Winter Haven, where Sujanani works.
Deputies also arrested 20-year-old Brooklyn Thompson of Haines City for one count sale of alcohol to a minor, for selling the high school Explorer an alcoholic beverage at the Racetrac located at 32886 US Hwy 27 in Haines City, where Thompson works.
The following stores were in compliance:
Sunoco (#276726) 1202 6th St NW, Winter Haven
Racetrack (#2316) 810 Havendale Ave, Winter Haven
Twin Brothers 2 Food Mart, 3250 Lake Alfred Rd, Winter Haven
Chevron (#00309278) 2100 1st St, Winter Haven
7 Days (#299) 1123 6th St, NW, Winter Haven
Twin Brothers 2433 Lucerne Park Rd, Winter Haven
Chevron (#121) 5900 Lucerne Park Rd, Winter Haven
WaWa (#5126) 1490 3rd Street SW, Winter Haven
Citgo (#00000144964-01) 128 Ave T NE, Winter Haven
*A high school Explorer is a teenager involved with the PCSO Explorer Post who volunteers to assist deputies doing compliance checks.