ABC Sting nets a pair

Officers from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), the Willows Police Department, and the Orland Police Department conducted a recent undercover operation to find out how many adults would buy alcohol for minors.

The sting is officially called a “shoulder tap operation,” said Sgt. Jason Dahl, of the Willows Police Department.

“A shoulder tap operation is done to reduce underage consumption of alcohol through the use of a minor decoy soliciting adults outside ABC licensed stores,” Dahl said. “The minor decoy, under supervision of law enforcement, contacts adults and asks them to purchase alcohol.”

As a result of the operation, Richard Cano, 21, and Mauro Zaragoza Ballarta, 21, were both issued misdemeanor citations for purchasing alcohol for a minor. 

They were the only two of  20 subjects that were contacted during the operation that agreed to purchase alcohol for the minor decoy.