Slidell police catch 27 in alcohol, tobacco sting

It seems that many store clerks in Slidell still have not got the message that it is illegal to sell alcohol or tobacco to anyone under the age of 21.

Last Friday, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Slidell police went from one convenience store to another with four underage decoys and out of 46 business establishments, handed out 27 summons for selling alcohol or tobacco or both to minors. One man from Florida, who was not a store employee, got busted because he bought alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 21.

Compare 27 summons issued last Friday with 12 citations issued last February during a similar sting.

Most of the stores that were cited were combination convenience stores and gasoline stations. However, there were also places like Rouses and Lishman’s supermarkets, CVS and Rite Aid pharmacies. Even more unbelievable, the Pinewood Country Club and the Chamalé Cove Country Club got caught in the sting.

Slidell police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said the police used two 20-year-old men, a 17-year-old male teen and a 20-year-old woman in the operation. Each of the decoys would enter a store and purchase either alcohol or tobacco. Most of the businesses did not ask the young people for identification to verify their age. After the decoys left the store, they turned the merchandise over to a police officer, who then went into the store and issued a summons for the unlawful sale of alcohol or tobacco to a minor. At some stores, the decoys were able to buy both alcohol and tobacco.

Those who were cited are: Lisa M. Stupack, 43, 36460 Hermia St., Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Eagle Gas Station on Old Spanish Trail; Ruth M. McClellan, 44, 73470 Par St., Abita Springs, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Texaco station on Voters Road; Catherine Jones, 48, 21442 Fire Tower Road, Mandeville, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Chevron station on Gause; Kanzie Yen Thi Nguyen, 33, 1151 Lake Forest Blvd., New Orleans, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor and unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor at the Jubilee gas station on Gause; Caitlin R. Keeler, 19, 569 Waverly Drive, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful alcohol to a minor at the Conoco station on Old Spanish Trail; Alonda M. Hall, 27, 460 Magnolia St., Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Lishman’s City Market on Pontchartrain Drive; Jenniece Miller, 50, 1432 Cherry St., Slidell, issued two summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor and unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor at the Circle K on Front Street; Raymundo Tovar, 53, 726 NE 1 Street Ave., Miami, Fla., unlawful purchase of alcohol on behalf of a person under 21 years of age and simple battery; Cameron M. Dreyfous, 18, 319 Hawk Drive, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Bowling USA on Brownswitch Road. Mechelle A. Kathmann, 31, 657 Carnation St., Apartment 1, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Rite Aid Pharmacy on Gause; Kelley A. Holley, 23, 64096 Mangano Road, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Rite Aid Pharmacy on Gause; Margarita Hatton, 65, 6040 Old Grand Dad Road, Kiln, Miss., issued a summons for unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor at the Kangaroo station on Airport Road; Shalanda A. Bickham, 30, 61211 Lynnwood Drive, Lacombe, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Rouses Supermarket on Gause; Sarah J. Toranto, 27, 4178 Lowerline St., Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of tobacco to a minor at the Town Crier on Airport Road; Altamash Oaisar, 18, 102 Turtle Creek Blvd., Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Shell station on Gause; Robert C. Groce, 19, 35398 Reese Lane, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Rouses Supermarket on Gause; Angelique Shelnick, 26, 22 Galleon Way, Carriere, Miss., issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at CVS Pharmacy on Gause; Peter Shehata, 23, 2130 Fourth St., Apartment 25, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Shell station on Brownswitch Road; Elizabeth Pasquier, 59, 19469 Schlumbrecht Road, Covington, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Conoco station on Northshore Boulevard; Lori L. Mercadel, 21, 222 South Queen Drive, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the WOW Restaurant on Gause; Erin Abdalia, 26, 316 Thames Drive, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Kappy’s Daiquiri on Gause; Carolyn N. Cromer, 25, 308 Margon Court, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Chamalé Cove Country Club; Michael G. Kamel, 23, 207 Audubon Drive, Slidell, issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Redfish Trading Co. on Pontchartrain Drive; Patricia E. Brown, 51, 500 Poplar Drive, Slidell issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Pinewood Country Club; Jennifer M. Jordan, 25, 71298 Zula Ave., Covington issued a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at the Fleet Travel Center on Voters Road; Candice N. Mims, 27, 815 Fremaux Ave., Slidell issued a summons for unlawful alcohol sales to a minor at GG’s Drink Shop on Robert Boulevard, and Mary E. Seals, 29, 111 Westchester Place, Apartment E3, Slidell issues a summons for unlawful sale of alcohol to a minor at Top Fuel station on Pontchartrain Drive.