News and Investigations

The Polk County Sheriff's Office conducted an "Operation Pop-Top" on Thurday, December 3, 2020, at eight different convenient stores in the areas of Auburndale, Winter Haven, and Eagle Lake. The ongoing operation is designed to ensure that stores within the county do not sell alcohol to anyone under 21 years of age.

Deputies are assisted in the operation by PCSO Explorers who make the attempt to purchase alcohol. The Explorer program is for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement. In this particular operation, the Explorer was only 17-years-old. 

Of the eight stores visited Thursday, seven of them were compliant. 

The clerk at the RaceTrac store at 11023 Hwy 17 in Eagle Lake did not check the Explorer’s identification at the time of sale, as is required by Florida law. The clerk, 23-year-old Ducle Yucute-Juarez of Winter Haven, was arrested and charged with Selling Alcohol to a Person under 21 years of Age (M1). 

The seven stores below were also visited during the operation and their clerks refused to sell alcohol to the minor.

1. Chevron 585 5th Street, Eagle Lake
2. LuLu's 78 5th  Street, Eagle Lake
3. Circle K 1108 Spirit Lake Rd, Winter Haven
4. 7-Eleven 4000 Recker Hwy, Winter Haven
5. Circle K 1000 US Hwy 92, Auburndale
6. RaceTrac 2227 US Hwy 92, Auburndale
7. Circle K 4950 US Hwy 92, Auburndale

“The stores and employees who were found to be in compliance with the law are to be congratulated. Each store employee must ensure that they do not sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age. We do these operations often, and we will hold stores and employees accountable.” - Grady Judd, Sheriff.