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 Meghan Petty. 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 25, 2019

Operation Pop Top leads to one arrest in Mulberry; eight stores refused to sell alcohol to minors

Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO

On Thursday, February 21, 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 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.

During the operation, 38-year-old Jessica Darby sold an alcoholic beverage to our 18-year-old Explorer while working at the Shell convenience store located at 104 N. Church Street in Mulberry. Darby was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21 and transported to the Polk County Jail.
The following stores were found to be in compliance with Florida beverage laws:

Racetrac 4285 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL
7/11 6175 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL
Racetrac 1690 N Broadway Ave. Bartow, FL
Sunoco 1385 N Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL
Circle K 310 W. Main St. Bartow, FL
Sunoco 1900 W. Main St. Bartow, FL
Sunoco 607 E. Canal St. Mulberry, FL

“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