News and Investigations

The ongoing checks at local convenience stores to ensure they are not selling alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age resulted in one arrest on Tuesday, February 9, 2022.

33-year old Princess Neal of Winter Haven, who is employed by the Kangaroo store at 207 Scenic Highway in Lake Hamilton, was charged with the misdemeanor crime after she allowed an 18-year old to purchase a 16-ounce Coors Light. 

The 18-year old is a member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office Explorer program, a club for high schoolers who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Operation Pop-Top is routinely assisted by an Explorer who attempts to purchase alcohol at various stores.

"Most of the time when we do these operations, store employees do the right thing; they check identifications and refuse to sell alcohol to those under 21. It is their duty to abide by Florida law, and our duty to ensure that they're doing that." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

Out of the seven stores visited by Deputies and the Explorer on Tuesday, six of the stores were compliant.

Those stores were:
* Quick Shop, 302 Main Street, Dundee
* Center Food Mart, 301 Center Street, Dundee
* EZ Foods, 30105 US-27, Lake Hamilton
* 27 Discount Beverage, 31799 US-27, Haines City
* On the Fly, 5900 Lucerne Park Road, Winter Haven
* RaceTrac, 32886 US-27, Haines City