Lakeland Circle K Clerk Arrested in Polk County Sting After Alcohol Sold to Underage Teen Volunteer
POLK COUNTY, FLORIDA — A Lakeland convenience store clerk was arrested Thursday, February 5, 2026, after deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted an underage alcohol enforcement operation that resulted in a prohibited sale at a local Circle K location.
The arrest occurred during Operation Pop Top, an ongoing enforcement effort aimed at preventing alcohol sales to individuals under the age of 21. Deputies visited multiple businesses across the Lakeland area to verify compliance with state alcohol laws.
Details of the Undercover Enforcement Operation
According to authorities, an 18-year-old member of the PCSO Cadet Unit 1000 assisted deputies by acting as a volunteer during inspections of ten convenience stores throughout Lakeland. The teen attempted to purchase alcohol while deputies monitored whether store clerks properly checked identification and refused illegal sales.
Most locations complied with the law. However, deputies reported that one store failed the compliance check.
Arrest Made at Lakeland Circle K Location
Authorities say 22-year-old Maria Juan, an employee at the Circle K located at 2385 Griffin Road, sold an alcoholic beverage to the underage volunteer. As a result, she was arrested and charged with selling alcohol to a person under 21, a misdemeanor offense under Florida law.
Deputies confirmed the sale occurred during the controlled operation and that the arrest was made at the scene following the transaction.
Sheriff Emphasizes Zero-Tolerance Enforcement
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd acknowledged that most businesses followed the law but stressed that even a single violation remains unacceptable.
“Ninety percent of the stores we checked on Thursday did the right thing, but that’s not good enough,” Judd said. “We need to be seeing 100% each time we do this. Sales clerks and stores must check IDs and refuse alcohol sales to anyone under 21, as required by law.”
Operation Pop Top to Continue
Sheriff’s Office officials stated that Operation Pop Top will continue as part of their commitment to keeping alcohol out of the hands of minors. The enforcement initiative includes repeat compliance checks and coordinated inspections across Polk County.
Authorities did not announce whether additional arrests were made during this round of inspections but confirmed further operations are planned.
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