From the Fortuna Police Department:

On Saturday March 12, 2016, the Fortuna Police Department joined forces with nearly 80 other agencies throughout California including the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) in a statewide Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation. The operation was conducted to help reduce youth access to alcohol and make the streets safer. The operation was conducted within the City of Fortuna.

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, and purchase alcohol for the minor, officers then arrest and cite them for furnishing alcohol to the minor. The penalty for furnishing alcohol to a minor is a minimum $1000 fine and 24 hours of community service. The program is intended to reduce the availability of alcohol to minors.

During the Statewide Operation, over 300 individuals were arrested for purchasing alcohol for the minors. In Fortuna, a total of 19 patrons were asked to purchase alcohol for the minor. Four of those patrons agreed and were arrested.

Those arrested were Lance Ostlund of Fortuna, Jerald Herder of Hoopa, Victoria Petersen of Fortuna, and Adam Evans of Fortuna. All four subjects were issued a citation and released at the scene.

Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) through the department’s Grant Assistance Program.