Sheriff's Office Reports 281 Arrests in Polk County Sting

Polk County authorities announced the results of a seven-day undercover operation that produced 281 arrests and 488 new charges. The initiative, designated Polk Around & Find Out II, targeted individuals accused of traveling to the area for unlawful sexual activity involving children and commercial sex.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed reporters on Friday to describe the outcome. He stated that suspects who arrived in the county with the intent to sexually abuse a child faced handcuffs instead. The operation involved simultaneous investigations coordinated by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

Records indicate the 281 arrested individuals carried a combined total of 798 prior criminal charges. Investigators found firearms in the possession of 24 suspects. Additionally, 32 people faced charges related to drug possession. The group included 40 residents of Polk County, while others traveled from the rest of Florida, 20 other states, and 18 countries.

The Sheriff’s Office identified 17 of the arrested individuals as employees of theme parks. Sheriff Grady Judd noted that Disney informed investigators it had terminated employees connected to the arrests. He said he had not yet received an update from Universal regarding the employment status of its workers who were detained.

Immigration status played a role in the enforcement actions. Authorities said 32 arrested people were in the country without legal authorization. Sixteen of those individuals were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An ICE official said the agency interviewed more than 65 foreign-born people and placed detainers on over 30 individuals identified as removable under immigration law.

One More Child, a nonprofit partner in the operation, reported engaging with 93 people during the sting. Eighteen of those individuals agreed to receive services. The organization stated that officials identified 11 people they believe were victims of human trafficking. Sine Dressler, the senior director of anti-trafficking operations, said that accepting help requires trust and that some people may be afraid or unsure.

Investigators are currently reviewing whether additional children were victimized in connection with one of the arrested suspects, a youth football coach. The investigation remains ongoing.