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.

Sep 6, 2025

Operation Pop Top pops two for illegal alcohol sales

Media Contact: Brian Bruchey

Two Winter Haven store clerks were arrested by the Polk County Sheriff's Office on Friday, September 5, 2025, after they sold an alcoholic beverage to a 16-year old.

The teen 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 from various stores.

"Operation Pop Top has two goals... one is to make sure the stores and employees know that they must be 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 and the student visited seven stores in the Winter Haven area on Friday, and the student succeeding in purchasing an alcoholic beverage at two of the stores.

The sales clerks who were arrested were identified as: 20-year old Kacy Calderon at the Sunoco (1202 6th St, NW) and 36-year old Ryan Bodiford from the Circle K (1000 1st St. South).

Both clerks were charged with Selling Alcoholic Beverage to a Person Under 21, a misdemeanor.