Published Thursday, March 28, 2002
SHARON
Store owners are cited after underage tobacco sale stingSharon police and the state Department of Health caught two stores selling tobacco to minors Wednesday during an undercover operation.
Dennis M. Hanahan, 49, of 869 Plum St., Sharon, owner of Vaughn's Market at Stambaugh Avenue and Plum Street, was cited at 11 a.m., police said.
Mohamed S. Taha, 39, of 556 Nellie St., Masury, owner of Fast Food Check Mart at Budd Street and New Castle Avenue, was cited at 11:30 a.m., police said.
Police said they sent minors into several stores in the city to see if they could purchase tobacco and found most stores refused to sell tobacco to minors.
According to police, the first time someone is cited on the charge they receive a $25 fine. The fine goes up for every subsequent charge, police said.
Sharon Police Chief Thomas Burke said this was the police's first undercover check on stores. He said future checks with the Department of Health are expected.