In the midst of an ongoing undercover operation to nab grownups trying to purchase alcohol for minors, Morgan Hill Police have arrested five adult suspects so far as a result of the “shoulder tap” initiative.
The arrests were made on Feb. 23, when undercover “minor decoys” were deployed to local establishments that sell alcohol legally, according to Morgan Hill Cpl. Scott Purvis. The five adults were arrested on suspicion of furnishing alcohol to a minor.
The minors approached adult customers of the businesses and asked them to purchase alcohol for them, Purvis said. In five of the attempts, the adult obliged and provided alcohol to the minor decoy.
Police declined to identify the establishments where the minors asked adults to purchase the booze, as it is an ongoing operation. Purvis said the operation is targeting a variety of establishments that sell alcohol, including bars, liquor stores and grocery stores.
The undercover sting is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Minor Decoy/Shoulder Tap Grant Project, which is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Anyone with information regarding the sale of alcohol to minors in Morgan Hill can contact Purvis at (408) 779-2101 or the anonymous tip line at (408) 947-7867.
