PCSO deputies conducted another round of Operation Pop Top on Thursday, January 8, 2026, and their efforts resulted in the arrest of a Winter Haven convenience store clerk for illegal sale of alcohol.
The operation is an ongoing campaign by the PCSO, in which they visit numerous stores that sell alcohol, ensuring that they check for IDs and refuse to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21.
In this case, a 16-year-old member of the Polk County Sheriff’s Office’s Cadet Unit 1000 assisted deputies as they checked six stores around the Winter Haven area.
39-year old Ashley Hunt was arrested by deputies after she sold an alcoholic beverage to the teen. Hunt is employed by the La La Food Mart at 2600 Havendale Boulevard. She was charged with selling alcoholic beverages to a person under 21, a misdemeanor.
“Five of the six stores we checked on Thursday did the right thing, but that’s not good enough. We need to see 100% compliance each time we do this. These sales clerks and stores need to be checking IDs and refusing to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under 21, as required by law.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff
Personally, I’d prefer these resources be directed towards traffic enforcement. Teens are gonna get alcohol one way or another. We did 60 years ago, and they’re doing it today.