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 Alicia Manautou. 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 15, 2024

OPERATION POP TOP

Media Contact: Meghan Petty, PIO

OPERATION POP TOP: One sales clerk in Mulberry arrested for selling alcohol to a person under 21

The Polk County Sheriff’s office operates an ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign in which deputies visit various stores to see if store personnel would sell to an alcoholic beverage to someone under 21 years of age (Florida's minimum age for legal alcohol consumption).

The person attempting to purchase alcohol was an 18-year old member of the PCSO's Cadet Program. Over the past week, a total of 10 stores were checked for alcohol sales; one store (Sunoco, 1790 Shepherd Road in Mulberry) sold alcohol to the 18-year-old cadet. The other nine stores checked were found to be in compliance with state law. The Sunoco sales clerk, Nupoor Jankan, was subsequently arrested for selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 (a second degree misdemeanor).

“Selling alcohol to minors is not just against the law; it can lead to terrible consequences. When underage kids get their hands on alcohol, it can lead to poor decisions, accidents, or worse. We all play a part in keeping our community safe, so let’s make sure we’re protecting our young people by not selling them alcohol. It’s just not worth the risk” – Grady Judd, Sheriff

If you are interested in learning more about the PCSO Cadet Program please visit: https://www.polksheriff.org/programs-services/cadet-unit-1000