Rockville Centre police target underage drinking

Four store clerks were arrested on June 18 at businesses in Hempstead for selling alcohol to minors.

The arrests were part of an ongoing undercover sting operation jointly conducted by the Hempstead Police Department and Rockville Centre youth officer Det. Michael Norwood, using an underage police agent to attempt alcohol purchases.

"We are trying to cut off the supply of alcohol to underage persons," Rockville Centre Police Commissioner Charles Gennario said. "We must and we will remain aggressive with these offenses."

Arrested and charged with unlawfully dealing with a child and selling alcohol to a minor were: Ousaf Khalid, 57, of West Hempstead, a clerk at the Hempstead Food Mart, 58 Main Street; Ronald Depenta, 19, of Freeport, a clerk at El Mango Deli, 229 Fulton Ave.; Yanhallie Haroleen, 26, of Queens Village, a clerk at the Citgo gas station, 771 Fulton Ave.; and Reina Peralta, 35, of Hempstead, a clerk at the Stop and Shop, 618 Fulton Ave.

Police also visited the Penn Deli, 462 Peninsula Blvd., where two previous arrests had been made, but this time no underage sales were transacted.

"We will keep targeting repeat offenders to make sure they are observing the state liquor laws," Gennario said.

The locations where the arrests took place are reported to the State Liquor Authority.