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Undercover Beer Sting Results In Violations At Midtown and Other Memphis Area Businesses

Release Date: December 27, 2005

Sheriff’s Deputies and other officers with the Metro D.U.I. Squad visited businesses in Midtown and in the area near the University of Memphis last week. Clerks at several establishments sold alcohol to persons below the legal drinking age of 21.

On Thursday evening, December 22, 2005, Deputies and other officers visited 22 locations which included convenience stores, grocery stores and liquor stores along Madison Avenue, Union Avenue, South Cooper, Poplar Avenue, Highland Street, Park Avenue and Getwell Road. Clerks at nine (9) businesses sold beer to minors.

Eight clerks who sold alcohol to underage customers received misdemeanor citations and will have to report to the Shelby County Sheriff’s office Jail Annex to be booked and fingerprinted at the Records and Identification Division.

Two store employees were physically arrested at the BP Amoco store at 695 Union. A 17 year-old clerk was arrested for selling beer to a minor, disorderly conduct and possessing a weapon. A second clerk at the store was also taken into custody for resisting official detention, disorderly conduct and simple assault on the officer during his arrest.

The sting last Thursday was part of an on-going effort by the Metro D.U.I. Squad funded by the Governor’s Highway Safety Office to stop the sale of alcohol to minors. So far this year, Metro D.U.I. officers have arrested 382 clerks during 31 undercover stings at businesses selling beer.

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