Slidell police catch 27 in alcohol, tobacco sting

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, June 3, 2009 8:43 AM CDT



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.


Copyright © 2010 St. Tammany News

Comments

13 comment(s)

    Evan wrote on Jun 11, 2009 11:42 AM:

    " I gotcha Joseph..I like the whole "trying to act adult so no one knows I need Evan to buy me beer" scheme..you need a case? Let me know. "

    Joseph Alphonso wrote on Jun 10, 2009 9:39 PM:

    " NOTE TO MR.Evan who wrote on Jun 4, 2009 10:28 PM: about him be willing to buy a teenager a beer. Now what if that drunken teenager KILL your parents with their car. Then will you be saying WHY did that person buy that beer for them JUST WHY... Think about it dude.
    If you have something you like to tell me. Then E-Mail me.
    If ya'll notice I used me real name.
    That because It can happen. it's life.
    Don't buy alcohol for the under age. "

    Evan wrote on Jun 9, 2009 10:05 AM:

    " nshorenative, if they really care about fixing the problem, thats probably what they would do. Red States don't like holding business responsible for anything, but that would be the only concievable way to curb sale of alcohol to minors is by creating some really tough punishments for owners, not store clerks who havent even graduated high school. Slidell Police will just take the money from these people with menial jobs and pretend they are making a difference. "

    Lewis wrote on Jun 8, 2009 6:15 PM:

    " The are doing their jobs. The drinking age was made to be 21 because the insurance companies did a study on under age drinkers and thats the age group most wrecks happen in. La. was one of the last states to hold out on the new law and was given a choice of losing Federal highway tax dollars or leave it at 18. If they choose to keep it at 18 then our auto insurance would be tripled and I for one don't want to pay out more so they can get drunk and kill somebody. "

    nshorenative wrote on Jun 7, 2009 2:10 PM:

    " This is a good and necessary exercise, and I thank the police for enforcing the law. However, I could not help but notice that several of those arrested are under age 21 themselves. I think the business owners should bear the responsibility in some of these cases because a "child under the age maturity" should not be required to HANDLE alcohol or tobacco as a condition of employment. And yes, I know it doesn't but the law should include age requirements for selling it also. "

    R. SIDE wrote on Jun 5, 2009 8:39 AM:

    " I applaud the activities of the SPD. Maybe, just maybe thier efforts will stop some young person from diving drunk, or establishing an addiction to tobacco.

    The Police are charged with enforcing all laws, and if they run a different set of operations from time to time good for them, and good for the tax payer. "

    slidell man wrote on Jun 5, 2009 7:51 AM:

    " Yall always have some bad to say about something. That's what is bringing this nation down. Don't be so harsh on the PD. They ARE out there protecting us and trying to make Slidell a better. place. I'm sure those businesses are not happy with their embarrassing actions and are a little more concerned with underage smoking and drinking. "

    DMS wrote on Jun 5, 2009 2:45 AM:

    " Everyone has good points, but the bottom line is that the law is the law. I don't agree with the drinking age being 21, but unfortunatelly it is. The officers doing the sting are just doing their jobs. Is it really that hard for a clerk to ask for an ID? I think not. Stop knocking SPD and commend them for a job well done! "

    Evan wrote on Jun 4, 2009 10:28 PM:

    " Wow, Slidell PD! Super job! You managed to net more money for the city and do absolutely nothing to curb the sales of alcohol and tobacco to minors!

    Speaking as someone who just turned 21, if I had a dollar for every time I was either a) not carded or b) got a stranger to buy my beer for me, I'd have more money than you made from all those citations. Go catch some real criminals and stop wasting your time and our tax dollars. If a kid ever asks me to buy him alcohol, I'll happily oblige. "

    WasteofTime wrote on Jun 4, 2009 5:13 PM:

    " Thanks....While you guys were ridding the streets of normally law abiding sales clerks, someone was breaking into my house. "

    Jake wrote on Jun 4, 2009 12:22 PM:

    " OR... How about we lower the drinking age to 18! I know DARE, MADD, and other "public interest" organizations would prefer to return to prohibition - but lets face it - teenagers WILL drink! Aside from that fact 18 year old's must pay taxes, can be incarcerated, can be drafted/go to war (and kill!!), they can hold just about any job, but yet they are to immature to have a drink!? Take a look at Europe and how they do things - and you'll see they don't have the problems we do because they embrace and SOLVE their problems! "

    BTM wrote on Jun 4, 2009 11:03 AM:

    " The names are in public records so who cares if they are posted. "

    Neighborhood Watchman wrote on Jun 4, 2009 6:41 AM:

    " Wow! Great Job! The SPD must have finally solved all other crimes in the area and now they have all this free time to focus on the real criminals. What is the point of publishing the names of these cashiers? Public embarrassment? Isn't a fine and a court date enough? "

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