Four adults, one business cited for selling booze to minors

Four adults and one business were cited before the holiday weekend for selling alcohol to minors in a sting operation, Merced police reported.

The Police Department used minor decoys Friday to attempt to purchase alcohol, Sgt. Alan Ward said in a news release.

A Smart & Final employee, Monet Sappho, was cited. Sappho asked for the decoy’s ID and allegedly still allowed the decoy to buy beer. The illegal sale will result in administrative action that could include a fine, suspension of a liquor license or permanent revocation of the license.

Businesses that did not sell alcohol to the decoys include Stop 2 Save on Martin Luther King Jr. Way; Carniceria El Bajio on East 16th Street; Kwik Serv on R Street; Walgreens on R Street; Dollar General on West Highway 140; Shell on R Street; Zoomy’s on Yosemite Parkway; R St Mini Mart on R Street; and Savemore Market on G Street.

Officers also sent decoys to Amigo’s Market on West 11th Street, Gas n Save on West 16th Street and Shop & Save Market on West Childs Avenue to solicit alcohol purchases from adult customers. Decoys asked 20 adults to purchase alcohol for them. Howard Jones, Brandon Trefault, Maxine Williams and Nathaniel Cooksey were cited for purchasing alcohol for the decoys, Ward said.

The Merced Police Department partners with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control for the operations. Four Merced officers and two ABC agents worked on the operation.

This story was originally published September 6, 2016 at 2:07 PM with the headline "Four adults, one business cited for selling booze to minors."