Clerks at 10 south Georgia stores are busted for selling alcohol to an underage police officer.
The arrests happened at stores in Adel, Nashville, and Hahira.
Even a customer at one of the stores was arrested after offering to buy the alcohol for the underaged officer when the officer told the clerk he didn't have an I. D.
At the stores in Adel, seven people were charged after selling alcohol to a 19-year-old police officer.
"They were ticketed for selling alcohol to a person under 21," said Maj. Audie Rowe, the Adel Police Assistant Chief. "They have a big responsibility selling this alcohol in the first place and we want to make sure they're doing the right thing."
The ones ticketed are 66-year-old Earl Jackson of Sparks, 33-year-old Nouman Chaudhry of Valdosta, 24-year-old Marie Pafford, 40-year-old Virkam Chanoulal Patel, 50-year-old Hasan Askari Syed of Adel, and 41-year old Jeffery Boyd Triggs of Adel.
One convenience store clerk who passed the test said she always checks I.D.'s.
"Customers sometimes tell me the bad word," said Manisha Patel. "I'm not a good person. I just take care of customers and my business too."
"When someone comes up and they want to purchase alcohol ask for that I.D.," said Rowe. "If they don't have it, don't sell it."
At one convenience store, 41-year-old Jerry Lee Miley of Adel, bought beer for the officer after a clerk told him she wouldn't sell it unless he had an I.D.
"He offered to go back in and purchase it for him," said Rowe.
Arraignments will start in January and Adel Police say they want people to always ask for I.D.'s. The undercover officer also helped Nashville Police and Hahira Police in stings there.
Hahira Police ticketed the following people with selling alcohol to people under 21:
Bhaviniben Gorgamkar, Big Foot Travel Center
Vilasben Patel, Discount Center
Jignasabahe Chavada, Discount Corner
Here's a press release from Nashville Police:
"As part of the Nashville Police Department's on-going effort to ensure compliance with State and Local laws regarding the sale of alcoholic beverages, NPD conducted an Underage Buy Operation at Nashville businesses in the afternoon of Wednesday December 14th. Of the 12 business checked, only one was found not in compliance when an undercover police officer under the age of 21 purchased a six pack of beer at the Four Guys Shell Station at 405 S. Davis St., without verifying his age. Although 23 y/o/ Store Clerk Brandi Griner did ask for identification, the undercover officer told her he didn't have it with him and she sold the beer to him anyway. Ms. Griner was subsequently issued an arrest citation for sale of alcohol to a minor.
Nashville businesses found to be in compliance included:
Chevron Station, Flash Foods, Gaskin's Grocery, Get N Go, Holiday Market (Old Coffee Road), Holiday Market (Tifton Road), K & K Store, Liberty Store, Lucky Corner, Mr. G's, Paps, and the Pit Stop.
Copyright 2011 WALB. All rights reserved.
