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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.
Jan 9, 2026
Winter Haven clerk arrested for selling alcohol to a 16-year old
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
PCSO deputies conducted another round of Operation Pop Top on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and their efforts resulted in the arrest of a Winter Haven convenience store clerk for illegal sale of alcohol.
The operation is an ongoing campaign by the PCSO, in which they visit numerous stores which sell alcohol, ensuring that they check for IDs and refuse to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21.
In this case, a 16-year old member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office’s Cadet Unit 1000 assisted deputies as they checked six stores around the Winter Haven area.
39-year old Ashley Hunt was arrested by deputies after she sold an alcoholic beverage to the teen. Hunt is employed by the La La Food Mart at 2600 Havendale Boulevard. She was charged with selling alcoholic beverages to a person under 21, a misdemeanor.
"Five of the six stores we checked on Thursday did the right thing, but that's not good enough. We need to be seeing 100% compliance each time we do this. These sales clerks and stores need to be checking IDs and refusing to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21, as required by law." - Grady Judd, Sheriff