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.

Aug 24, 2021

Operation Pop Top: Lakeland store clerk arrested for illegal alcohol sale

Media Contact: Carrie Horstman, Administrator

During an Operation Pop Top initiative to ensure that alcohol is not being sold to anyone under 21 years of age, PCSO deputies (assisted by a high school student) checked 11 stores in the county, and found all but one in compliance.

"This is an ongoing effort to make sure that stores and their employees aren't violating state law by selling alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age. Great job by the deputies, and a great job to all of the clerks and stores who were compliant with the law." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

The deputies were assisted by a 19-year-old PCSO Explorer who visited the various stores in Lakeland, Mulberry, and Bartow. Explorers are high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.

52-year-old Johnnie Todd of Lakeland was arrested for selling alcohol to a minor, which is a misdemeanor. She works at the 7-Eleven store at 1011 CR 540-A East in Lakeland.

The 10 other stores that were checked were:

Circle K, 2175 CR 540-A East, Lakeland
RaceTrac, 6486 South Florida Ave, Lakeland
Marathon, 3117 South Florida Ave, Lakeland
7-Eleven, 7040 SR 37 North, Mulberry
Murphy's, 6801 North Church Ave, Mulberry
Sunoco, 1285 North Church Ave, Mulberry
Shell, 104 North Church Ave, Mulberry
Sunoco, 4285 SR 60 West, Mulberry
Shell, 310 West Main St, Bartow
Racetrac, 1690 North Broadway Ave, Bartow