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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.

Nov 5, 2019

Auburndale cashier arrested by PCSO for selling alcohol to a minor

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office conducted another "Operation Pop-Top" on Monday, November 4, 2019, in which deputies ensure that stores within the county do not sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age.

Of the eight stores visited, seven of them were compliant.

24-year-old Hanna Bane, a cashier at the RaceTrac store at 2227 Hwy 92 East in Auburndale, was arrested after she sold an alcoholic beverage (Budweiser 12-oz) to a PCSO Explorer who is under 21-years-old.

The operations utilizes members of the PCSO Explorers, a program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement. The Explorers, under the guidance of deputies, attempt to purchase alcohol at various stores.

The following seven stores were found to be in compliance with Florida alcohol beverage laws:
 
- CITGO                     4646 N. Combee Road, Lakeland
- M and J Food Store 1416 N. Combee Road, Lakeland
- CITGO                     1405 N. Combee Road, Lakeland
- Fast Trax Inc.           1000 N. Combee Road, Lakeland
- 7-Eleven                   2707 Hwy 92 East, Lakeland
- Circle K                    4950 Hwy 92 East, Lakeland
- Circle K                    1000 Hwy 92 East, Auburndale

We are going to hold store employees accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. It’s their responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores and employees found in compliance did a great job following the law. We congratulate them.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff