Polk Sheriff's Explorer Helps Bust Store Clerk Selling Minors Alcohol

DAVENPORT, FL — Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff's Office arrested a Davenport store clerk for selling alcohol to a 15-year-old on Oct. 24 as part of its ongoing Operation Pop Top campaign.

Debra Collison, 32, was charged with sale of alcohol to a person under 21, a misdemeanor, after a teen boy, a sheriff's Explorer working undercover, purchased an alcoholic beverage from her.

The Explorers program is for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement. Deputies coordinate visits to various Polk County stores assisted by an Explorer to ensure that the stores are compliant with state alcohol sales laws.

"Deputies visited seven stores on Monday, and six of them refused to sell alcohol to our Explorer," Sheriff Grady Judd said. "Stores and their employees have a responsibility to do their part in keeping alcohol out of the hands of those who are under 21, as required by law."

The stores checked during this round of stops were all in the Davenport area.