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.

Apr 1, 2021

Frostproof Store clerk arrested for illegal alcohol sales during "Operation Pop Top"

Media Contact: Alicia Manautou, PIO

The Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a convenience store clerk on Wednesday, March 31, 2021, after she illegally sold alcohol to a minor, during an undercover "Operation Pop Top" investigation.

"These operations are carried out frequently at different locations throughout the county, to ensure that the stores and employees are compliant with state laws, by not selling alcohol to anyone under the age of 21. Kudos to those who did the right thing." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

The 17-year-old participant is a member of the PCSO Explorers program which consists of students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.

The Explorer visited eleven stores in the Lake Wales/Frostproof area, and he was successful in purchasing an alcoholic beverage at one of the stores.

Deputies arrested 24-year-old Breanna Nicole Johnson at the Town Star Marathon store at 7030 Us Hwy 27 in Frostproof.

The ten other stores which were visited and were compliant were:
*Food Mart, 19300 US Hwy 27, Lake Wales
*Chevron, 16311 US Hwy 27, Lake Wales
*Circle K, 14581 US Hwy 27, Lake Wales
*Little Dixie Market, 22 Hwy 630 W, Frostproof
*Harvey's Food Mart, 203 Scenic Hwy S, Frostproof
*Little Dixie Market, 917 Scenic Hwy S, Frostproof
*Sun Ray Citgo 5320 US Hwy 27 Frostproof
*Sun Ray Sunoco 5321 US Hwy 27 Frostproof
*Circle K 166 N. Charleston Ave Fort Meade
*Mac's Food and Beverage 822 N. Charleston Ave Fort Meade
*Sunoco 3 E. Broadway Street Fort Meade