Deputies from the Polk County Sheriff’s Office conducted another round of Operation Pop-Top checks on Thursday, July 17, 2025, leading to the arrest of two convenience store clerks from Lakeland.  

This is an ongoing operation by the PCSO that ensures local stores are being compliant with the state alcohol sales law by checking for ID’s and refusing to sell alcoholic beverages to anyone under the age of 21. 

The deputies were assisted by an 18-year-old high school student who is a member of the PCSO’s Cadet 1000 program. 

The student attempted to buy alcohol at each of the eight stores and was successful in doing so at the Wawa at 4320 Hwy 98 North, as well as the Circle K located at 3100 North Galloway Road in Lakeland.

The two clerks, April Joplin, 56, of Lakeland and Clara Leyva, 70, of Lakeland were arrested and charged with selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21 years of age (a misdemeanor).

“This operation is about protecting our kids. We do these checks all over the county and we will continue to do them often in order to promote safe and law-abiding retail practices.” – Grady Judd, Sheriff. 

In addition to checking for illegal alcohol sales, the Operation Pop-Top campaign will check stores to make sure they are not selling tobacco or Kratom to anyone under 21 years of age.