News and Investigations

A sales clerk at a Davenport smoke shop was arrested Tuesday, April 14, 2026, after selling kratom to a 15-year old.

29-year old Kenisha Fowler, who works at the Skywalker Smoke Shop at 158 California Boulevard near Davenport, was charged with Selling Kratom to a Person Under 21 Years of Age, a 2nd Degree Misdemeanor.

The arrest was part of the latest Operation Pop Top visits that the Polk County Sheriff's Office frequently makes. During these visits, deputies are assisted by a person under 21 years of age who attempts to purchase alcohol at convenience stores, or kratom from smoke shops. 

The person under 21 is a member of the PCSO's Cadet 1000, a program for high school students who are interested in a career in law enforcement.

"Kratom is a drug that is currently legal in Florida, but it is illegal to sell to anyone under 21. We often check local businesses to make sure kratom is not being sold to anyone who is too young to buy it, just like we do with alcohol sales. In this case, one sales clerk failed the test." - Grady Judd, Sheriff

On Tuesday, deputies visited three smoke shops and eight convenience stores in the Davenport area. None of the convenience stores sold alcohol to the 15-year old, and two of the smoke shops refused to sell kratom to the student.