News and Investigations

On December 18, 2018, PCSO school resource deputies conducted “Operation Pop Top”— an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to the sale of alcohol to minors. Deputies send high school teenagers under 21 into stores to see if they can buy alcohol. The students are PCSO Explorers, which is a program designed for students who are interested in learning about law enforcement careers.

During the operation, 23-year-old, Tamika Gatson, sold an alcoholic beverage to our 18-year-old Explorer while working at the WAWA store located at 43582 Highway 27 in Davenport. Gatson looked at the Explorer’s state identification card and still sold beer to the minor. She was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21.

Also during the operation, our Explorer was sold beer at the Racetrac store located at 43250 Hwy 27 in Davenport. 21-year-old Geranel Rosario was the on-duty cashier at the time. Rosario also looked at the Explorer’s state identification card and continued to sell a can of beer. Rosario was subsequently taken into custody for the sale of an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21. He was transported to the Polk County Jail.
 
The following stores were found to be in compliance:

1.  7-Eleven #21260, 43332 Hwy 27, Davenport
2.  7- Eleven #16188, 44249 Hwy 27, Davenport
3.  Circle K, 1026 Walt Williams Road, Lakeland
4.  Sandpiper Mobile, 6655 N Socrum Loop Road, Lakeland
5.  Marathon, 6000 SR 557, Lake Alfred

“We are going to hold store employees accountable for selling alcohol to those under 21 years old. It’s their responsibility to check ID’s at all times. The stores and employees found in compliance did a great job following the law. We congratulate them.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff