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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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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.
Aug 27, 2025
Two sales clerks arrested for illegal alcohol sales during PCSO's Operation Pop Top
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office checked nine Lakeland convenience stores for illegal alcohol sales on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, and it resulted in two sales clerks being arrested.
The checks were a part of the ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign in which deputies are assisted by a high school student who attempts to purchase an alcoholic beverage.
State law prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21-years of age.
On Tuesday, the deputies were assisted by an 18-year old student who is also a member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000 program for students interested in a law enforcement career.
"I don't see the two arrests as being successful. That just shows that not everyone is abiding by the state law. When every store and clerk is checking IDs and refusing to sell to patrons under 21, that is when it is a success... and we're going to continue to work toward that." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.
Arrested were:
Estefany Ferrera Martinez, 32, a sales clerk at the Circkle K store at 3025 Kathleen Road.
Julian Aquinaga, 42, sales clerk at the Circle K store at 8324 US 98 North.
Both were charged with Selling an Alcoholic Beverage to a Person under 21 Years of Age (M2).