Grant used in alcohol decoy stings

LA MESA — The La Mesa Police Department has updated its statistics on illegal alcohol purchases by adults for minors since being awarded a $34,000 grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control last July to battle alcohol-related crime.

The grant is one of 44 awarded in California to local law enforcement agencies through ABC’s Grant Assistance Program. The grants combine the efforts of local police officers and ABC agents to help communities reduce alcohol-related problems.

The department has used most of the grant money as part of its Decoy Shoulder Tap Operations project and on related surveillance equipment, such as video cameras and ear pieces, La Mesa police Sgt. Bret Richards said.

On April 16, and June 11, Shoulder Tap operations were conducted with minor decoys used to alcohol.

Any person who purchases alcohol for the underage decoy is arrested and either cited or booked for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

During the latest undercover work, 10 La Mesa convenience stores were visited and 20 customer contacts were made by the minor decoys. Four arrests were made for furnishing alcohol to a minor.

“We worked many different areas of La Mesa during the operations,” said La Mesa Police Sgt. Bret Richards. “We didn’t focus on one particular area. We did return to several 7-Eleven stores where we had multiple offenders in the past.”

The 7-Elevens targeted were on Amaya Drive, Baltimore Drive, Parkway Drive and University Avenue. The Circle K on La Mesa Boulevard was another location that was visited.

June 30 marks the end of this year’s ABC grant, Richards said.