On Thursday, February 21, 2019, PCSO school resource deputies conducted “Operation Pop Top”— an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. Deputies send high school teenagers into stores to see if they can buy alcohol. The students are PCSO Explorers, which is a program designed for students who are interested in learning about law enforcement careers. 

During the operation, 38-year-old Jessica Darby sold an alcoholic beverage to our 18-year-old Explorer while working at the Shell convenience store located at 104 N. Church Street in Mulberry. Darby was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21 and transported to the Polk County Jail.
 The following stores were found to be in compliance with Florida beverage laws:

Racetrac                  4285 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL
7/11                         6175 US Hwy 98 South, Lakeland, FL
Racetrac                  1690 N Broadway Ave. Bartow, FL
Sunoco                    1385 N Broadway Ave, Bartow, FL              
Circle K                   310 W. Main St. Bartow, FL
Sunoco                    1900 W. Main St. Bartow, FL
Sunoco                    607 E. Canal St. Mulberry, FL


“We are going to hold store employees accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. It’s their responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores and employees found in compliance did a great job following the law. We congratulate them.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff