One Man Cited for Buying Booze for a Minor

One Novato man was arrested Sunday night during a shoulder-tap operation designed to restrict alcohol access to underage people, Novato police said.

Over a three-hour period, a minor who was working as a police decoy approached 12 people outside a downtown Novato gas station and asked if the person would buy alcoholic beverages for the minor, police said.

One person complied. Jesus Chavez, 50, was approached by plain-clothed police officers after making the purchase. Chavez was cited and released.

In a similar operation, plain-clothed officers issued a citation to Banel Monestine, 31, of Novato for a violation of the city's social host ordinance, which helps restrict alcohol access to minors and serve as a deterrent to adults who furnish alcohol to minors in their homes. The citation was issued at a large party in the San Marin neighborhood at which one juvenile was cited for alcohol possession, one for public intoxication and two for marijuana possession.

The department's enforcement operation is part of the Justice Assistance Grant that has funded shoulder tap operations for the past three years, Acting Lt. Jennifer Welch said.

Anyone interested in supporting or participating in limiting minors' access to alcohol can learn more on the Novato Blue Ribbon Coalition for Youth's website.

Stay Patched in! Follow Novato Patch on Twitter | Like Novato Patch on Facebook | Sign up for the daily e-mail with links to the latest news.