Polk County cops make 281 arrests in week-long sting

Polk County law enforcement officials announced on Thursday that a seven-day undercover operation led to 281 arrests and 488 new criminal charges. The initiative, which concluded this week, included 198 felony charges among the new counts.

The operation, designated as Polk Around & Find Out II, involved simultaneous investigations. Officers focused on individuals accused of traveling to the area to meet children for unlawful sexual activity or to engage in commercial sex. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office coordinated the effort with other agencies.

Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed reporters during a news conference to outline the results. He stated that those who came to Polk County expecting to sexually abuse a child found cuffs instead. Officials noted that the arrested individuals carried a combined 798 prior criminal charges. Additionally, 24 of the suspects possessed firearms, and 32 people faced drug possession charges.

Employment records revealed that 17 of the arrested individuals worked at theme parks in the area. Sheriff Grady Judd said Disney informed investigators that it had fired the employees connected to the arrests. Judd noted that he had not yet received an update from Universal regarding the status of its workers who were taken into custody.

The suspects came from various locations. Forty lived in Polk County, while others traveled from elsewhere in Florida, 20 other states, and 18 countries. The sheriff’s office indicated that 32 of the arrested people were in the country unlawfully. Sixteen of them were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

An ICE official reported that the agency interviewed more than 65 foreign-born people during the operation. The agency placed detainers on more than 30 individuals it identified as removable under immigration law. Sine Dressler, senior director of anti-trafficking operations for the nonprofit One More Child, said the organization engaged with 93 people. Eighteen agreed to receive services, and officials identified 11 people they believe were victims of human trafficking.

Judd said investigators are reviewing whether additional children may have been victimized in connection with one of the arrested men, a youth football coach. The investigation into the remaining suspects continues.