Polk County Operation Pop-Top: Clerk Arrested for Selling Alcohol to Minor

Polk County Operation Pop-Top: Clerk Arrested for Selling Alcohol to Minor

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Deputies with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office continued their proactive Operation Pop-Top campaign on Thursday, April 3, 2025, targeting underage alcohol sales across the county.

During this round of checks, deputies visited nine convenience stores in the Frostproof-Lake Wales area. Assisting deputies was a 17-year-old high school student from the PCSO’s Cadet 1000 program, who attempted to purchase alcoholic beverages at each location.

Out of the nine stores, one failed the compliance check. The QP Gas Station, located at 704 North Scenic Highway in Lake Wales, illegally sold alcohol to the underage cadet. The store clerk, 63-year-old Abul Kalem Shaikh of Lake Wales, was arrested and charged with selling an alcoholic beverage to a person under 21, a misdemeanor offense.

Sheriff Grady Judd emphasized the importance of these operations, stating, "The stores checked this time were in the Frostproof-Lake Wales area, but we do these checks all over the county, and we do them often. My advice to anyone who works at an establishment that sells alcohol is to check the IDs of your customers, and do not sell alcohol to anyone under 21. Otherwise, it might be you going to the Polk County Jail next time."

In addition to monitoring alcohol sales, Operation Pop-Top is also aimed at preventing the illegal sale of tobacco and kratom products to anyone under the age of 21.

Polk County officials urge all store clerks to stay vigilant and help keep the community safe.

---

Join the iSkyNews.com Community!

Be part of the conversation—join our free community chat at www.iSkyNews.com to discuss breaking news, weather, investigations, and more! Stay informed and connect with others who care about the stories that matter.

© 2025 iSkyNews.com. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use or reproduction of this content is strictly prohibited.

---

SEO Title: Polk County Operation Pop-Top: Clerk Arrested for Selling Alcohol to Minor

Keywords: Polk County Operation Pop-Top, underage alcohol sales, Lake Wales news, QP Gas Station arrest, Abul Kalem Shaikh, Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, Cadet 1000 program, store compliance checks, Florida alcohol laws, Frostproof Lake Wales, illegal alcohol sales Florida