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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.
Apr 4, 2025
Operation Pop-Top: Nine stores checked, one failed
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office continued their Operation Pop-Top checks on Thursday, April 3, 2025, as they visited nine convenience stores, ensuring that the stores are compliant with the state alcohol sales law.
The deputies were assisted by a 17-year old high school student who is a member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000 program.
The student attempted to purchase an alcoholic beverage at each of the nine stores, and was successful in doing so at the QP Gas Station at 704 North Scenic Highway in Lake Wales.
The store's clerk, Abul Kalem Shaikh, 63, of Lake Wales, was arrested and charged with selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age (a misdemeanor).
"The stores checked this time were in the Frostproof-Lake Wales area, but we do these checks all over the county, and we do them often. My advice to anyone who works at an establishment that sells alcohol is to check the IDs of your customers, and do not sell alcohol to anyone under 21. Otherwise, it might be you going to the Polk County Jail next time." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
In addition to checking for illegal alcohol sales, the Operation Pop-Top campaign will check stores to make sure they are not selling tobacco or kratom to anyone under 21 years of age.