News and Investigations

Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office conducted another round of Operation Pop-Top visits to local stores that sell alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and kratom. 

34 stores were checked Wednesday, July , 2026 to ensure they were compliant with state law regarding alcohol sales, and four other stores was checked regarding kratom and tobacco sales. 

Alcoholic beverages and kratom are prohibited to be sold to anyone under 21-years of age.

"As a law enforcement agency, we have a responsibility to the community to enforce these laws. Likewise, if you're a sales clerk, or the owner of a store, you also have a responsibility to the community to refuse to sell alcohol or kratom to anyone under the age of 21." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

The deputies were assisted in the attempted purchases by members of the PCSO's Cadet Unit 1000. The Cadet program is for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.

In two of the 34 stops, the cadet was successful in purchasing an alcoholic beverage, resulting in the arrests of two sales clerks.

37-year-old Angela Santiago, employed by 7-Eleven at 6519 Marigold Avenue in Poinciana, and 19-year-old Allie Rodriguez, from the Family Dollar store at 19 Hwy 630 East in Frostproof were both charged with selling alcoholic beverage to a person less than 21-years-- a misdemeanor.

All four of the clerks at the tobacco/smoke shops refused to sell any products to the Cadets.