Boone Police and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety (DPS) Alcohol Law Enforcement division teamed up with the Western Youth Network and Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative to conduct compliance checks on establishments in Boone that are licensed to sell alcohol. The purpose of compliance checks is to ensure that businesses are not selling alcohol to persons under the age of 21, which is prohibited by state law.
During these December 2016 compliance checks, Master Police Officer Dennis O’Neal and an ALE agent led the effort, checking 20 establishments that are licensed to sell alcohol by the State of North Carolina. 17 of the 20 establishments passed the compliance check.
The following establishments had an employee give / sell alcohol to a minor during these compliance checks on December 16, 2016:
Dos Amigos 187 New Market Center
Los Arcoiris 168 Boone Heights Drive
Murphy’s 747 West King Street
The following persons were charged as a result of this operation:
Comilo Garcia Gomes, 27 years-of-age, charged with selling malt beverage to a person who at the time was less than 21 years-of-age.
Ricardo Pedraza Saucedo, 42 years-of-age, charged with providing a malt beverage to a person who at the time was less than 21 years old.
Rosemary Christine Pierce-Messick, 21 years-of-age, charged with selling malt beverage to a person who at the time was less than 21 years old.
Each defendant was issued a State Citation mandating an appearance in Watauga District Court on Jan. 19, 2017. Western Youth Network and Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative partners with the community to prevent and reduce the misuse of alcohol, marijuana, and prescription medication by youth through awareness, advocacy, and action. Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention and the Boone Police Department would like to thank the many businesses that were in compliance with the law during this compliance check operation. These stores and restaurants did their part in preventing the sale of alcohol to minors. By decreasing alcohol availability to minors, compliance checks are believed to reduce alcohol-related deaths and crime among youth.
Western Youth Network and Watauga Substance Abuse Prevention Collaborative teams with NCALE to offer free training to anyone holding an ABC permit and also speaks with civic groups and schools. Please contact the District VII Office to schedule a program or report violations at: 919-703-3013. — Special Agent Amber Singleton.