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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 Brian Bruchey, Carrie Horstman, and Meghan Petty. 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.
Feb 28, 2025
Lakeland store clerk arrested for illegal alcohol sale
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey, PIO
A Sunoco sales clerk in Lakeland was arrested Thursday, February 27, 2025, after he sold alcohol to an 18-year old customer.
Kyle James Zarrinski, 26, was booked-in at the Polk County Jail on a charge of Selling Alcohol to a Person under 21, a misdemeanor.
The arrest occurred during the latest series of checks made by deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office, in what is known as "Operation Pop Top." It is an ongoing campaign in which the deputies are assisted by a high school student who is a member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000 program.
The student, under the watch of deputies, attempted to purchase an alcoholic beverage at ten stores on Thursday; he was successful at the Sunoco store at 4612 Cleveland Heights Boulevard in Lakeland.
"Deputies do these visits often, because we simply will not tolerate stores selling alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age. These stores and their employees have a responsibility to the community, and we're here to tell them that they need to honor that responsibility." - Grady Judd, Sheriff
Deputies also visited a smoke shop in Lakeland to ensure that they would not sell Kratom to the Cadet member, and an employee did indeed refuse to sell the regulated substance.