281 arrested in Polk County crackdown on trafficking and child predators
The week-long operation caught 17 theme park employees and 31 suspected child sexual predators in Winter Haven.
By Samira Khalil ·
Police in Polk County, Florida, arrested 281 people during a seven-day undercover operation targeting human trafficking and child sexual predators. The crackdown, named Polk Around and Find Out II, concluded with a high volume of arrests across multiple categories of suspected crimes.
Authorities recorded 239 arrests for offenses involving the solicitation, offer, or transport of prostitutes. Detectives also took custody of 31 suspected child sexual predators and 11 other individuals. Of the 31 predator arrests, two suspects were specifically charged with human trafficking.
The group of suspects included workers from major Central Florida attractions. Investigators arrested 17 theme park employees, comprising 13 from Disney and four from Universal Studios. Other notable arrests included an Orange County deputy sheriff, a youth football coach, and an active-duty Navy sailor.
During the operation, 117 people traveled to the undercover site to negotiate sex for money. A separate group of 122 people arrived to commit prostitution and underwent immediate screening by detectives and social services. These screenings identified 11 human trafficking victims who received support services at the scene.
The sting also resulted in the arrest of 32 illegal immigrants from nine countries. Additionally, 22 people receiving public assistance were taken into custody. The combined monthly assistance for these 22 individuals totaled $8,373, amounting to $100,476 per year.
Sheriff Grady Judd will brief reporters on Friday at 9:30 a.m. at the PCSO Sheriff's Operations Center in Winter Haven. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier, State Attorney Executive Director Chris Nelson, and other officials will attend the meeting. Authorities have not yet released individual suspect names or formal court dates.
