News and Investigations

Operation Pop Top leads to two arrests; six stores refused to sell alcohol to minors

On September 20, 2018, PCSO conducted “Operation Pop Top,” an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. This involves sending high school aged PCSO Explorers, under the age of 21, into stores to see if they can buy alcohol.

The operation yielded two arrests in Davenport.

40-year-old Tracy Lessard was charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21 after she sold alcohol to an underage high school student at the Chevron at 44039 Hwy 27 in Davenport. She checked the ID showing the student was underage, but sold the alcohol anyway.

60-year-old Yolanda Garcia was charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21 after she sold alcohol to an underage high school student at the Loves Truck Stop at 45000 Highway 27 in Davenport. She also checked the ID, but sold the alcohol anyway. 

“This is important to us in Polk County. If someone is in a position to sell alcohol, they need to thoroughly check IDs. We will continue to do these important checks, and if someone sells alcohol to a minor, we are going to arrest them. We are so grateful that the vast majority of stores and store staff refuse to sell to our teenagers during these operations.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff.

During the operation, the following stores were found to be in compliance:

1.  Sandpiper Mobil, 6655 N Socrum Loop Rd, Lakeland, FL 33809

2.  Circle K, 1026 Walt Williams Rd, Lakeland, FL 33809

3.  Polk City Truck Stop, 1821 State Road 559 Polk City, FL 33868

4.  Sunoco, 44009 US Hwy 27, Davenport, FL 33897

5.  Loves Truck Stop, 1800 Hwy 559, Auburndale, FL 33868

6.  Polk City Marathon, 6000 State Road 557, Lake Alfred, FL 33850