Sheriff Leads Sting Operation

The mood during the initial meeting is light hearted, but it quickly becomes all-business.

“It’s still a serious problem,we want to ensure no minors are getting their alcohol illegally”, said Sgt. Anthony Canonizado.

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and Sheriff’s deputies work with members of the Junior Explorers group, it consists of high school students interested in law enforcement.

The students purchase the alcohol, but the law enforcement agents take all precautions.

“The under cover deputy goes in first, checks the store, makes sure that there’s no robbery or armed robbery”, said Sgt.Wittke.

Once the deputy gives the all clear, the undercover minor is sent in to make the purchase. At this store no illegal sale takes place, so they move to the next store.

“We’ve checked 89 establishments and we’ve had a total of 6 arrests and to us that’s good”, said Sgt. Wittke.

Sgt. Witkke tells me the 3 month crack down is doing it’s job, especially with spring break in full swing.

The next stop was at a convienance store by my house.I told the deputies there was no way they were going to make a bust. I get carded there whenever I make a purchase that requires me to show i-d,and then, there it is, the undercover minor walking out with alcohol. They go in to make the arrest.

“It’s not an offense in which we can issue a citation or a ticket, it’s an offense where we must arrest the person”, said Sgt. Witkki.

The person in this case, deputies tell me, is 22 years old, and has never been arrested.

“they see so many people hour after hour after hour, it just becomes routine so for them it’s just easy to ring up the sale and go on to the next person.”

As for the undercover junior explorers, they feel a sense of accomplishment.

“I feel like i help my community big time, you’ll be saving somebody’s life”, said Junior Explorer.