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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.
Oct 18, 2018
Operation Pop Top leads to two arrests; eight stores refused to sell alcohol to minors
Media Contact: Sherrie Morgan, PIO
On October 17, 2018, PCSO conducted “Operation Pop Top,” an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. This involves sending high school aged PCSO Explorers, under the age of 21, into stores to see if they can buy alcohol.
The operation yielded two arrests in Auburndale.
Lizeida Rivera Rodriguez, 40, was the cashier at the Chevron, located at 123 Magnolia Avenue, when she illegally sold a can of beer to a teen. She was charged and arrested with selling alcohol to a minor under the age of 21.
Rimon Rahman, 27, was working as a cashier at the Sunoco, at 334 Havendale Boulevard, when she also sold a can of beer to a teen. Rahman was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a minor under 21.
“If you’re a store clerk, you will be held accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. You never know when law enforcement might be observing. It’s your responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores found in compliance did a great job following protocol.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
The following stores were found to be in compliance with the Florida beverage and tobacco laws:
RaceTrac, 2227 US Hwy 92 W, Auburndale.
Circle K, 1000 US Hwy 92 W, Auburndale.
A-1 Discount Beverages, 1042 Berkley Rd, Auburndale.
Marathon, 1114 Berkley Road, Auburndale.
Shell Station, 1795 N Berkley Rd, Auburndale.
A-1 Discount Beverages, 219 Park Avenue, Auburndale.
Sunoco, 420 Magnolia Avenue, Auburndale.
Wawa, 334 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale.
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