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News and Investigations
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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.
Apr 15, 2026
Smoke shop clerk arrested for selling kratom to a 15-year old
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
A sales clerk at a Davenport smoke shop was arrested Tuesday, April 14, 2026, after selling kratom to a 15-year old.
29-year old Kenisha Fowler, who works at the Skywalker Smoke Shop at 158 California Boulevard near Davenport, was charged with Selling Kratom to a Person Under 21 Years of Age, a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor.
The arrest was part of the latest Operation Pop Top visits that the Polk County Sheriff's Office frequently makes. During these visits, deputies are assisted by a person under 21 years of age who attempts to purchase alcohol at convenience stores, or kratom from smoke shops.
The person under 21 is a member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000, a program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.
"Kratom is a drug that is currently legal in Florida, but it is illegal to sell to anyone under 21. We often check local businesses to make sure kratom is not being sold to anyone who is too young to buy it, just like we do with alcohol sales. In this case, one sales clerk failed the test." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
On Tuesday, deputies visited three smoke shops and eight convenience stores in the Davenport area. None of the convenience stores sold alcohol to the 15-year old, and two of the smoke shops refused to sell kratom to the student.