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 Carrie Horstman, Brian Bruchey, and Julianna Rivera. 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 1, 2026

PCSO arrests two convenience store clerks for illegal sales to minors

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

Two Lakeland convenience store clerks were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Tuesday, June 30, 2026 during another round of Operation Pop Top checks; one sold an alcoholic beverage to a 16-year-old, while the other sold nicotine vape to a 16-year-old.

The teen who purchased the products is a member of the PCSO's Cadet Unit 1000, which is a program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Cadets assist deputies during their Operation Pop Top stops by attempting to purchase an alcoholic beverage or tobacco product from various stores.

"We do these Operation Pop Top checks for two reasons... one is to make sure the stores and employees are checking IDs and refusing to sell alcohol and tobacco to anyone under 21-years of age. The other is to show them that we fully intend to enforce the law, and make arrests when necessary." - Grady Judd, Sheriff.

The deputies visited 38 convenience stores on Tuesday, and all but one refused to sell an alcoholic beverage to the Cadet member.

At the Everest Food and Beverage store at 5044 Lunn Road in Lakeland, 70-year-old Roy Kohler did sell an alcoholic beverage to the 16-year old. Kohler was arrested and charged with Selling an Alcoholic Beverage to a Person Under 21 years (M2).

The deputies checked one smoke shop, Lowball Louie's at 7058 N. Church Avenue in Lakeland. 26-year-old Deann Corbett sold a nicotine vape to the Cadet member and was subsequently arrested for Selling Tobacco Products to a Person Under 21 (M2).