Investigators from the California Highway Patrol, and deputies from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, joined forces on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 in a Shoulder Tap Operation in the Morongo Basin.
During a Shoulder Tap Operation, a minor decoy 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. When as adult agrees to the purchase, then provides alcohol to the minor, officers arrest and / or 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. According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.
During this six hour operation, five parties were arrested for providing alcoholic beverages to a minor.
Toasefulu Sims, 58 YOA, of 29 Palms; Mario Gutierrez Lopez, 21 YOA, of Pomona; Michael Corum, 58 YOA, of Yucca Valley; and Travis Sarver, 28 YOA, of Fenwick, West Virginia were all arrested for providing alcoholic beverages to the minor decoys. All were released on citations in the field.
Steve Haddicks, 28 YOA, of Joshua Tree, was arrested for providing alcoholic beverages to the minor decoy. He was also found to have driven to the store where he was arrested while under the influence of alcholic beverages and with a suspended license. He was booked on charges of providing alcoholic beverages to a minor, DUI, and driving with a suspended license due to prior DUI convictions. He was later released from custody on a citation.
These operations were funded by the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program (GAP). ABC is a Department of the Business, Transportation and Housing Agency.
Sgt. James Porter
Station:Morongo Basin Station
Phone No.(760) 366-4175
ROD HOOPS, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
