Nature of Incident: Tobacco Products Decoy Sting Operation
Report Number: N/A
Location: Various Retail Locations - City of Thousand Oaks
Date & Time: 4/27/2018 @ 5:00 PM
Unit Responsible: Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Directed Enforcement Unit (DEU) and Ventura County Public Health
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) Peter Pickett Simi Valley 24
(S) Claudio Selame Newbury Park 30
(S) Eivan Younan Granada Hills 33
(S) Ramon Jimenez Simi Valley 25
Narrative:
On April 27, 2018, members of the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Directed EnforcementUnit with the assistance of Ventura County Public Health conducted a tobacco product sting,
using an underage decoy, in an attempt to purchase tobacco products at retail establishments inthe city of Thousand Oaks. The goal of this operation was to limit access of tobacco products to
underage person(s), and confirm the local businesses are operating within the law. Fourcashiers were arrested and released on misdemeanor citations for selling tobacco to persons
under the age of 21.
The underage decoy attempted to make purchases of tobacco products at 12 locations throughout the City that are commonly referred to as “smoke shops.” Cashiers at four of the establishments sold tobacco products to the underage decoy. The other eight turned the decoy away without selling any tobacco products.
In an ongoing effort to prevent access to certain products by teens, the Thousand Oaks Police Department’s Directed Enforcement Unit will continue to conduct periodic sting operations dealing with tobacco products to confirm retailers in the area are doing their part to prevent access of tobacco products to underage person(s).
All of the suspects that sold tobacco products to the underage decoy were arrested for Penal Code section 308(a)(1). The Thousand Oaks Police Department would like to thank the other eight businesses that did not sell tobacco products to the underage decoy.
Prepared by: Sergeant Brian Baker
Media Release Date: May 1, 2018
Media Follow-Up Contact: Senior Deputy Cesar Salas
(805) 947-8229
Approved by: Captain Don Aguilar
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