FELLSMERE — The Fellsmere Police Department teamed up with the Florida Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco for operation “Fellsmere Blitz” on Friday that resulted in the arrest of three local service employees who did not fully comply with state laws when selling to minors.
An underage informant visited 14 businesses on Friday between 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in an attempt to purchase alcohol, tobacco, or lottery tickets, according to a report posted on the Fellsmere Police Department’s Facebook.
Bethany Ballas, an employee of Stuckeys BP on County Road 512 was arrested for selling alcohol to an underage person. Penkaj Patel, an employee of Fellsmere Country Store on Oak Street, was arrested for selling a lottery ticket to a minor. Francisco Anaya of Anaya’s Produce, was arrested for selling tobacco to a minor.
Sale of alcohol or tobacco to a minor are both second degree misdemeanors punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine while sale of a lottery ticket to a minor is a first degree misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
All three defendants were issued a notice to appear and released at the scene.
“We do not like to have to put our businesses through this process, but know it is necessary to protect our children and maintain compliance with the law,” said Fellsmere Chief of Police Keith Touchberry in a prepared statement. “It is also important that we treat all retailers the same and not give the impression that certain businesses are being targeted unfairly.”
Of the 14 businesses checked during the “Fellsmere Blitz,” 10 complied, three failed to comply, and one was not open at the time of the operation.