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.

Jul 24, 2023

Operation Pop Top: Bartow store clerk arrested for selling alcohol to a minor

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

On Friday, July 21, 2023, deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office visited 12 convenience stores in the Lakeland, Bartow, Homeland, and Fort Meade areas in the ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign against illegal alcohol sales.

The checks resulted in the arrest of a sales clerk at the 7-Eleven store at 1385 N. Broadway Avenue in Bartow. 62-year old Patricia Bishop of Lakeland was arrested after she sold a 25-ounce can of Bud Light beer to a 17-year old.

The juvenile is a PCSO Explorer who was working with the PCSO on the operation. The Explorer program is for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement and they frequently take part in these checks.

"Deputies are constantly conducting these checks on stores that sell alcohol. The intent is to ensure that they are compliant with state laws regarding alcohol sales by not selling alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age. While we expect people to drink responsibly, we also expect retailers to sell responsibly." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

Bishop was charged with Selling Alcohol to an Underage Person (M2).

The other 11 stores that were checked on Friday refused to sell an alcoholic beverage to the juvenile.

Additionally, one store was checked and found to be in compliance with Kratom sales.