Wawa Clerk Charged With Selling Alcohol To Teen

WINTER HAVEN, FL — A Wawa clerk has been charged with selling an alcoholic beverage to a minor after Polk County sheriff's deputies sent a teenager to 11 gas station convenience stores with a mission to see if he could buy booze. Ten other busesses, including another Wawa, passed the test dubbed Operation Pop Top.

"We take this very seriously, and I am glad to see the vast majority of the stores are in compliance with the law," said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd in announcing the sting operation Tuesday. "This is an ongoing effort, so we remind retail store personnel, 'please don't sell alcohol or tobacco products to minors.'"

Subscribe to Lakeland Patch for our free morning newsletter and regular news alerts

The Wawa clerk was identified as 47-year-old Rufus Green of Winter Haven.

The 17-year-old undercover teen was actually part of the agency's PCSO Explorer Post, which is chartered by Boy Scouts of America.

The group functions like a cadet program for students who are interested in any aspect of law enforcement. It allows students to learn about law enforcement careers, in this case with actual field experience.

"Operation Pop Top is an ongoing effort to enforce laws related to selling alcohol to minors," added the sheriff's office.

Officials said the Wawa where Green worked is located at 1490 3rd St SW in Winter Haven.

Curious as to which businesses passed the test? Here's a list:

1. Sunoco: 420 Magnolia Ave, Auburndale
2. Chevron: 123 Magnolia Ave, Auburndale
3. Wawa: 334 Havendale Blvd, Winter Haven
4. Sunoco: 421 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
5. Chevron: 2885 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
6. Chevron: 2049 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
7. Citgo: 1690 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
8. Racetrac: 934 Havendale Blvd, Auburndale
9. Citgo: 1250 6th St NW, Winter Haven
10. Sunoco: 1202 6th NW, Winter Haven

Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriff's Office