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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.
Jul 5, 2026
Three more arrests for Operation Pop Top
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested four more sales clerks during this week's Operation Pop Top push, bringing the total for the week to nine.
The deputies have been checking convenience stores across the county to make sure they wouldn't sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age. The deputies also checked smoke shops to ensure that they weren't selling tobacco or kratom to anyone under 21 as well.
During the visits, the checks were made by having a member of the Cadet Unit 1000 attempt the illegal purchases. Cadet Unit 1000 is a PCSO program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, deputies visited 38 convenience stores and the Cadet member was successful in purchasing alcohol from three stores.
Arrested were:
Jazmine Bates, 29, clerk at Shell, 2385 Griffin Road, Lakeland.
Shine Thomas, 43, clerk at Citgo, 4075 SR 60 E, Mulberry
Harshaben Patel, 46, clerk at Marathon, 95 US 17/92 Haines City.
All three were charged with Selling Alcohol to a Person Under 21, a misdemeanor. Shine Thomas was also determined to be in the United States illegally and was placed under an ICE Hold.
On Friday, July 3, 2026, deputies visited 20 convenience store. One sales clerk was arrested after selling alcohol to the Cadet member.
Lilawattie Thakoordyal, 41, a clerk at Gate, 2950 Ridge Way, Lake Wales, was charged with Selling Alcohol to a Person Under 21, a misdemeanor.
"The deputies and Cadet members did a great job this week; they checked 170 convenience stores, eleven smoke shops, and arrested a total of nine clerks who broke the law. This week was an extraordinary effort by the deputies and Cadets, but their work will continue throughout the year in order to protect the children of our community." - Grady Judd, Sheriff