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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.
Apr 1, 2026
Lake Wales sales clerk charged for selling alcohol to an 18-year old
Media Contact: Brian Bruchey
A Lake Wales sales clerk was arrested Tuesday, March 31, 2026, after she sold an alcoholic beverage to an 18-year old.
What the clerk wasn't aware of at the time was that the customer is a member of the Polk County Sheriff's Office Cadet 1000 program, and was there to assist deputies during the Operation Pop-Top campaign.
The deputies visited a half-dozen stores in the Lake Wales and Bartow area on Tuesday to ensure they were compliant with state law that prohibits the sale of alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21 years of age.
Five of the stores refused to sell to the under-cover customer but one did, and that resulted in the arrest of the store clerk who sold it.
42-year old Brandi Cutting-Millanes from Love's Travel Stop at 17309 US 27 in Lake Wales, was arrested and charged with Selling Alcohol to a Person under 21 Years of Age, a misdemeanor.
"This is very important, and store clerks and their management need to be checking IDs and refusing sales to anyone under 21. These surprise visits are conducted often, so if you're a store employee, it would behoove you to act within the law, or it might be you going to jail next time." - Grady Judd, Sheriff