Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd announced Friday that a seven-day undercover operation, “Polk Around & Find Out II,” produced 281 arrests and 488 new charges, including 198 felonies. The operation combined two investigations: one focused on people accused of traveling to meet children for unlawful sexual activity, and another targeting commercial-sex activity. Seventeen of those arrested worked at theme parks, and Disney confirmed it fired employees connected to the arrests. Judd said he had not yet received an update from Universal.
The suspects were hardly local: only forty lived in Polk County, while others came from 20 other states and 18 countries. Thirty-two were in the country unlawfully, and 16 were transferred to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Meanwhile, the nonprofit One More Child identified eleven people as likely victims of human trafficking and emphasized that accepting help begins with trust, especially when people are afraid or not yet ready.
Investigators are still reviewing whether a youth football coach arrested in the operation had additional victims, a reminder that these cases often continue after the press conference ends. If you have information that could help, contact the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. For all of us on the Suncoast, how should employers like theme parks handle the disclosure of arrests among their staff? Join the conversation on our Facebook page.
