News and Investigations

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