Location: Mulitiple locations, Visalia area

Incident Date: 4/14/18

Case Number: Multiple

Victim: State of California

City: Visalia area

Posted by: Dispatch

Crime Scene Locations:

6544 Ave. 308, Goshen

16010 Ave. 328, Ivanhoe

Suspects:

Velasco, Juan Muro 53 Yrs old Case #18-04983

Meyers, Ryan Lowell 39 Yrs old Case #18-04976

Barragan, Alfredo 24 Yrs old Case #18-04991

Narrative:

Tulare County Sheriff’s Department cited 3 persons on April 14, 2018, for furnishing alcoholic beverages to minors.  The operation was conducted in the general vicinity of the Ivanhoe and Goshen area.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department conducted a program called a Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation which targets adults who purchase alcohol for people less than 21 years of age.  Under the program, a minor under the direct supervision of a peace officer will stand outside a liquor or convenience store and ask patrons to buy them alcohol.  The minor indicates in some way he or she is underage and cannot purchase the alcohol. 

If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and/or cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor.  The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1,000 fine and 24 hours of community service. 

The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.  Statistics show they generally have a higher rate of drunken driving crashes than adults.  Studies also show the combination of alcohol and youth tends to increase criminal conduct.  According to the American Medical Association, underage drinking can increase chances of risky sexual behavior and teen pregnancy, juvenile delinquency, compromise health, and result in unintentional injury and death.

This project is part of the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s Education and Teen Alcohol Enforcement Program Grant, funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The cases are currently under investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Tulare County Sheriff’s Department at (559)733-6218 or send anonymous information by sending a text or email to TCSO@tipnow.com or call 1-800-TIPNOW.