Alcohol Sales to Minors Net 3 Arrests

CATHEDRAL CITY — In an ongoing effort to stop alcohol sales to minors, the Cathedral City Police Department’s Special Operation Section at 9 p.m. on Feb. 19 arrested three adults for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors.

Arrested was Marcel Noble, 57, of Cathedral City; Ignacio Orozco, 48, of Cathedral City; and Daniel Flores, 31, of Cathedral City. All three suspects were cited and released with notices to appear. Additionally, Randall Suarez, 57, of Cathedral City, was arrested for interfering with an arrest during the operation.

The undercover operations were conducted at several locations throughout the City of Cathedral City. They are:

• Circle K Market, 37040 Cathedral Canyon Drive, Cathedral City
• Circle K Market, 68258 Ramon Road, Cathedral City
• Outpost Market, 68171 Ramon Road, Cathedral City

The Cathedral City Police Department conducted a program called a Decoy “Shoulder Tap” Operation which targets adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age.  Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol.  The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol.

If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor.  The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service.

The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.  Statistics show juveniles generally have a higher rate of drunk driving crashes than adults.  Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct.  According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of at-risk sexual behavior, teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromised health and unintentional injuries or death from alcohol poisoning.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Alcohol Policing Partnership (APP).

ABC is a Department of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency.