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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.

Feb 11, 2022

Operation Pop-Top: Lakeland convenience store clerk arrested for illegal alcohol sale

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

The ongoing checks at local convenience stores to ensure they are not selling alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age resulted in one arrest on Thursday, February 10, 2022.

40-year old David Ware of Lakeland, who is employed by the Marathon store at 4225 Lakeland Hills Blvd. in Lakeland, was charged with the misdemeanor crime after he allowed an 18-year old to purchase a 16-ounce Budweiser Light. 

The 18-year old is a member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office Explorer program, a club for high schoolers who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Operation Pop-Top is routinely assisted by an Explorer who attempts to purchase alcohol at various stores.

"Most of the time when we do these operations, store employees do the right thing; they check identifications and refuse to sell alcohol to those under 21. It is their duty to abide by Florida law, and our duty to ensure that they're doing that." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Out of the nine stores visited by Deputies and the Explorer on Tuesday, eight of the stores were compliant.

Those stores were:
7-Eleven, 290 Lakeland Park Rd., Lakeland
BP, 4655 N. Socrum Loop Rd., Lakeland
Fast Stop, 820 E Memorial Blvd., Lakeland
Citgo, 1202 Ariana St., Lakeland
RaceTrac, 3600 Harden Blvd., Lakeland
Marathon, 33 W. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland
Neal’s Pipkin One Stop, 1155 W. Pipkin Rd., Lakeland
Everest Food and Beverage, 5044 Lunn Rd., Lakeland