News and Investigations

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted another Operation Pop-Top on Thursday, April 22, 2021, in an ongoing effort to ensure that retailers are in compliance of state law regarding alcohol sales.

The operation uses high school students in the PCSO Explorers program who will attempt to purchase an alcoholic beverage. The student who took part in Thursday’s operation is 18-years-old.

The operation visited seven convenience stores in the Lake Hamilton, Dundee, and Haines City areas, and only one of the stores was not in compliance.

34-year-old Edna Cartagena of Haines City was arrested for selling alcohol to a person under 21 years of age. She is a sales clerk at the Race Trac store at 32886 US 27 in Haines City.

The other six stores that properly refused to sell alcohol to the Explorer were: 

EZ Foods                   30105 US 27             Lake Hamilton

Kangaroo Express     207 Scenic Highway Lake Hamilton

Center Food Mart      301 Center Street      Dundee

Quick Shop                302 Main Street         Dundee

Superway 6                201 Dundee Road     Dundee

7-Eleven                     28200 US 27             Dundee

“It is no secret that we carry out these operations. We want the stores and their employees to know that we do them, and to expect us to check in from time-to-time to make sure they are refusing to sell alcohol to anyone under 21. Kudos to the clerks and stores who have shown that they are putting safety ahead of sales.” Grady Judd, Sheriff