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Four Flagler County store clerks face misdemeanor charges of illegal sale of tobacco to minors after the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office completed a sting operation on Monday, according to a Sheriff’s Office press release.

School resource officers sent juveniles from the Sheriff’s Office Explorer program inside local convenience stores to attempt to purchase tobacco products. Of the 22 stores involved, 18 clerks refused to sell to the underage customers.

Four clerks completed the sale, and the juveniles immediately met an SRO outside who then went inside to confront the store employee and advise them of the unlawful sale.

“The use of tobacco products by juveniles in any community is a problem. An adult selling tobacco products to youth is irresponsible, illegal and only adds to the problem. We will continue to conduct operations that address the sale of both tobacco products as well as alcohol to juveniles in the future,” Sheriff Jim Manfre said in a statement.

The Palm Coast businesses where the illegal sales took place were as follows:

7-Eleven, 220 Palm Coast Parkway N.E.
RaceTrac Gas, 301 Palm Coast Pkwy N.E.
The Humidor, 101 Palm Harbor Parkway
JMJ Tobacco, 800 Belle Terre Parkway

Misdemeanor charges were forwarded to the State Attorney’s Office on the four offending clerks.

 

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