The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in Florida arrested two sales clerks for selling alcohol to minors as part of their Operation Pop Top campaign. This campaign involves deputies checking stores to ensure clerks are not selling alcohol to those under 21. The minor involved in the operation was an 18-year-old member of the PCSO’s Cadet program.
The stores were also inspected for illegal sales of Kratom, a substance restricted to those over 21. In the past week, 17 stores were checked for alcohol sales and four vape shops for Kratom sales. All four vape shops complied with the law.
Two convenience store clerks, however, violated the law by selling alcohol to the underage Cadet. The clerks, 27-year-old Emanuel Gonzalez from Circle K in Lakeland, and 23-year-old Octavio Bowe from Racetrac in Davenport, were charged with a misdemeanor for selling alcohol to a person under 21.
Sheriff Grady Judd expressed disappointment over the continued illegal sales, despite clear legal guidelines. He stressed the importance of these checks in ensuring law compliance and preventing illegal sales to minors.