On Wednesday, March 13, 2019, PCSO school resource deputies conducted “Operation Pop Top”— an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. Deputies send high school teenagers under 21 into stores to see if they can buy alcohol. The students are PCSO Explorers, which is a program designed for students who are interested in learning about law enforcement careers. 

Deputies checked stores in the Winter Haven and Auburndale areas. During the operation, 39-year-old Sharee Futch of, Winter Haven, sold an alcoholic beverage to our 17-year-old Explorer while working at the 7-Eleven convenience store located at 1099 1st St. South in Winter Haven. Futch was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Polk County Jail. She’s charged with selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21.
 
The following stores were found to be in compliance:
1. Circle K: 1108 Spirit Lake Rd., Winter Haven
2. RaceTrac: 11023 US Hwy 17 S, Winter Haven
3. WaWa: 1490 3rd St SW, Winter Haven
4. Shell: 999 1st St. South, Winter Haven
5. RaceTrac: 810 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven
6. Mobil: 1509 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven
7. Chevron: 2049 Havendale Blvd NW, Winter Haven
8. Wawa: 334 Havendale Blvd, Winter Haven
9. Sunoco: 420 Magnolia Ave, Winter Haven
10. Circle K: 1000 US Hwy 92 W, Auburndale
11. RaceTrac: 2227 US Hwy 92 W, 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