Crime & Safety
Police: West Bab Mini Mart Employee Sold Alcohol to Minor
First Precinct and State Liquor Authority officers are conducting inspections regarding illegal alcohol sales in response to community complaints.
An employee at a West Babylon gas convenience store was one of two local men arrested Wednesday and charged with selling alcohol to minors, police said.
The arrests of Ali Erkan, 46, of Center Moriches, who works at the Getty Gas Mini Mart on Route 109 in West Babylon and Kunwar Sharma, 76, of New Jersey, an employee at Lindenhurst Wine and Liquor Store on Park Avenue, are part of an ongoing police effort to stop unlawful alcohol sales.
The two men are charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and issued field appearance tickets. They are due to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on Dec. 7.
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The investigation was initiated in response to community member complaints, police said. First Precinct officers are working with a State Liquor Authority investigator in conducting inspections.
An underage volunteer, acting as an agent of the Suffolk County Police Department, enters the establishments with the intent to purchase alcohol. Of nine locations recently inspected, seven were determined compliant, police said.
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