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.

Nov 20, 2018

Operation Pop Top leads to three arrests; eleven stores refused to sell alcohol to minors

Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO

On November 19, 2018, PCSO conducted “Operation Pop Top,” an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. This involves sending high school aged PCSO Explorers, under the age of 21, into stores to see if they can buy alcohol.

The operation yielded three arrests in Haines City and Winter Haven.

Deputies arrested Terrah Carter, 26, for selling alcohol to a minor at the 7-11 store at 38409 Highway 27 in Haines City.

Christopher Berry, 19, was also taken into custody for selling alcohol to a minor at the Mobil at 1200 3rd Street Northwest in Winter Haven.

Lastly, deputies took Abdallah Shaban, 61, into custody for selling alcohol to a minor at the Sunoco at 1202 6th Street Northwest in Winter Haven.

All three store clerks were transported to the Polk County Jail without incident.

“If you’re a store clerk, you will be held accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. It’s your responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores found in compliance did a great job following protocol.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

The following stores were found to be in compliance with the Florida beverage laws:

1. Citgo: 128 Ave T NE, Winter Haven, FL
2. Chevron: 2100 1st N , Winter Haven, FL
3. Chevron: 5900 Old Lucerne Park Rd, Winter Haven, FL
4. RaceTrac: 32886 US-27, Haines City, FL
5. Pilot: 35647 US-27 North, Haines City, FL
6. Sunoco: 35855 US-27, Haines City, FL
7. RaceTrac: 38425 US-27, Davenport, FL
8. Citgo: 2998 US-27 17-92 SW, Davenport, FL
9. Citgo: 530 S Lake Shore Way, Lake Alfred, FL
10. Twin Brothers: 3250 Lake Alfred Rd, Winter Haven, FL
11. Wawa: 1490 3rd St. SW, Winter Haven, FL