Salem Observer : alcohol

Two fail liquor compliance check in Salem

Salem Editor — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:26:00 GMT

After performing alcohol compliance checks over the weekend of May 3, Salem police think businesses might be getting smart to their practices – either in not serving minors or in communicating with each other to slip under the radar.

Only two summonses were issued in compliance checks of 67 Salem businesses, in which a minor is sent into alcohol-selling establishments to attempt to buy alcohol.

“That’s the least we’ve ever had,” said Salem police Capt. Bill Teuber.

Simon Najjar, 50, of Salem, a bartender at Rosie’s Place on North Broadway in town, was summonsed to court for prohibited sales.

Also charged was Phillip Lynch of Lawrence, Mass., 17, a cashier at the Shaw’s Supermarket on Cluff Crossing Road.

The individual who goes undercover in these checks, a different person each time, is always a person under 21 who’s appearance would obviously be questionable to any employee looking for indications that the person is under 21.

The individual also presents his or her own identification, if asked by the seller.

Teuber said the department conducts these checks, often with the help of the state Liquor Commission, about three or four times a year.

In a media release on the compliance checks, Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten said establishments have gotten smart about the checks and have apparently banded together.

“Unfortunately, we have been made aware that there appears to be an underground information sharing network. When businesses start getting checked, a flurry of phones calls are made to give other businesses a heads up that a sting is being conducted,” Patten wrote in the statement.

“In order to address this, we will be modifying our enforcement techniques in future stings. We do hope that businesses are truly committed to preventing underage sales, and these improved results are the effect of that commitment and not due to advanced warnings during sting operations,” Patten said.

The Police Department’s prosecuting ability extends only to the individual who sold the alcohol, not to the establishment. Individuals found guilty of prohibited sales face fines for the first offense plus any disciplinary action taken by the establishment.

Salem Police, when conducting the checks on their own as they did this time around, notify the liquor commission of what establishments failed the compliance checks. Businesses are disciplined through the commission in the form of fines or license status modifications.

Both Najjar and Lynch will appear in Salem District Court on June 2 to answer to their charges.

14 businesses cited for underage alcohol sales

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 20:02:00 GMT

By Darrell Halen

Underage buyers were able to purchase alcohol at 14 stores in Salem during a police-conducted alcohol compliance check on 58 businesses.

The underage buyers went into the stores and restaurants during the evening of Friday, Jan. 18.

The store clerks and waitstaff that sold to them were issued a summons for prohibited sales. The New Hampshire State Liquor Commission will be issuing an administrative summons to the businesses.

Deputy Police Chief Bill Ganley said four buyers were used in the check. The buyers look youthful and presented identification when asked for it. Some workers sold alcohol even after checking an ID, Ganley said.

“The whole point ... is to try to get to 100 percent compliance,” he said. “It’s not to punish people, but to keep them on their toes.”

The workers who were issued a summons are:

Michael Baez, 22, Methuen, Mass. (Cumberland Farms); Warren Perry, 52, Lawrence, Mass. (Salem Exxon); Nancy Seligman, 48, Derry (B & H Oil); Pritish Patel, 20, Methuen, Mass. (Salem Convenience); Belinda Overdeput, 16, Salem (Mike’s Red Barn); John Russo, 35, Salem (Store 24); Jose Pabon, 28, Methuen, Mass. (K-Mart); Joseph Meadows, 67, Derry (Centerplate); Hudson Wells, 19, Salem (Irving); Meryl Thomas, 56, Derry (Hess Express); Shayna Padden, 22, Sandown (T-Bones); Lori Mogauro, 45, Pelham (Bertucci’s); Kelly McCarthy, 38, Salem (7-11); Binh Nguyen, 19, Lawrence, Mass. (Tokyo Steakhouse).

The compliance checks were funded by a grant from the New Hampshire Department of Justice to address underage drinking.

Two of the establishments are repeat offenders, according to police.

Mike’s Red Barn was cited during alcohol compliance checks in May and July 2007, and Hess was cited in May 2007.

Checkpoint Salem – Sobriety stop nets 24 arrests over Labor Day weekend

Salem Editor — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 19:56:00 GMT

BY BRUCE PRESTON

Salem police conducted two sobriety checkpoints last weekend, netting 24 arrests, including nine for driving while intoxicated and two for minors in possession of alcohol.

Officers worked from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 1 and 2, stopping a total of 470 vehicles.

On Saturday evening, six Salem police officers worked with six officers from New Hampshire State Police at a checkpoint set up at the Babies “R” Us store on South Broadway.

Random vehicles traveling northbound were directed into the parking lot for the check. This was coordinated with Massachusetts State Police, who were working with Methuen, Mass., police just over the border at a checkpoint for southbound traffic.

Once drivers entered the checkpoint, officers asked some general questions and made an assessment of the drivers’ condition. If necessary, the drivers were asked to take a field sobriety test. A total of 50 drivers were asked to do this. The majority of drivers were just given a survey to provide feedback about the checkpoint and were on their way in less than two minutes.

One Salem resident who encountered the checkpoint was Selectman Mike Lyons. Lyons spoke briefly with a state trooper and was on his way quickly.

“The officers were very professional,” Lyons said of the checkpoint. “I’m glad that we can do this once per year and provide the extra level of protection to our community.”

The cost of the checkpoints was funded by a federal grant administered by the New Hampshire Highway Safety Agency.

Liquor store caught selling to minors

Salem Editor — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 17:32:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

A recent alcohol sales compliance check by Salem police yielded several repeat offenders and a state liquor store.

Police officials said nine Salem businesses sold alcohol to minors during the check on May 24.

Deputy Police Chief William Ganley said he wasn’t expecting to see Route 28’s state liquor store on the list.

“I was surprised, but the state liquor stores are just like any other store,” he said. “Someone made a sale and just like any other business, you have to face the problems.”

The check of 45 businesses by police and officials from the state Bureau of Liquor Enforcement was part of an ongoing effort to reduce underage drinking during the end-of-school season.

The nine store clerks who sold to underage buyers range in age from 16 to 41. They were each charged with misdemeanor prohibited sales. They are due for arraignment in Salem District Court on June 25.

As school graduation approaches, Ganley said police intend to continue their efforts but a change in technique may be required since business owners have been calling each other to give advance warning.

Instead of mass checks, police may begin sporadically checking a handful of stores every night, Ganley said.

“We’re just trying to keep them honest,” he said. “If they just follow the law, they won’t have to worry about what we’re doing.”

Of the nine businesses involved in the check, Levendi’s Restaurant on Lowell Road and 7-Eleven at 1108 Cluff Crossing have both been cited three times for selling to minors in the past few years, Ganley said.

The other businesses listed were: Chief Wok, 224 N. Broadway; Kashmir, 396 S. Broadway; Hess gas station, 362 N. Broadway; Mike’s Red Barn, 301 Main St., Race Mart, 52 Lowell Road; and Papa Gino’s, 99 Cluff Crossing.

The individuals charged were: David Joy, 38, of Windham; Joseph Parisi, 56, of Pelham; Theresa Benso, 23, of Amesbury, Mass.; Jatinder Singh, 20, of Arlington, Mass.; Daneen Finn, 41, of Seabrook; Wendy Colby, 24, of Nashua; and Pritesh Patel, 19, of Methuen, Mass. Two 16-year-olds from Massachusetts were also charged.

25 arrested at underage party

Salem Editor — Wed, 23 May 2007 16:34:00 GMT

BY MATT HERSH

Salem police officers made 25 arrests on Friday, May 18, after discovering a large underage drinking party.

A total of 25 people were arrested when a police officer who was patrolling an area of North Salem noticed a large gathering of cars on Mary’s Lane.

One teen was charged with unlawful possession and disorderly conduct while the others were charged with unlawful possession and intoxication.

Deputy Police Chief William Ganley said the officer reported that the cars were lining both sides of the narrow street, making it impossible for an emergency vehicle to travel down it if necessary. This posed a safety threat to the entire neighborhood, he said.

Ganley said the officer started knocking on doors to see where the gathering was taking place. A resident said it was happening at 8 Mary’s Lane and the officer went to investigate.

“When the officer walked around back of the house, there were a bunch of kids who ran inside, locked the door and shut off all of the lights,” Ganley said. “This would lead a person to believe that something wasn’t right.”

The officer knocked on the door until a girl came out and explained that the home belonged to her grandmother. She had permission to be there, she told police.

After contacting the grandmother and gaining permission to enter the home, police found open alcohol containers, Ganley said.

“The girl had permission to be there but not with that many people and obviously not with alcohol,” he said.

While almost all of the people present cooperated with police, Peter Richard, 19, of Billerica, Mass., had to be subdued with pepper spray. He was later charged with disorderly conduct.

The following were charged with possession and intoxication:
Alexis Boucher, 19, Salem; Daniel Trahan, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Kristen Bailey, 19, Billerica, Mass.; Adam Fitzpatrick, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Jedrek Miskevitch, 20, Billerica, Mass.; Daniel Reale, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Vanessa Sousa, 18, Billerica, Mass.; Kevin Mazure, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Jason Walkley, 20, Billerica, Mass.; Ashley Spinale, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Pamela Strelis, 20, Arlington, Mass.; Michael Nichols, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Lisa Merlino, 20, Woburn, Mass.; Nicholas Marmanidis, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Michael Sutherby, 18, Everett, Mass.; Adam Mariniccio, 20, Burlington, Mass.; Sean Litchfield, 19, Lowell, Mass.; Thomas Boucher, 19, Burlington, Mass.

Each is scheduled for a court appearance on June 18, Ganley said.