Suffolk cops arrest three in sting for selling alcohol to minors

An undercover operation aimed at cracking down on the sale of alcohol to minors resulted in the arrest of three store clerks in Suffolk County Saturday, Suffolk police said.

The clerks were arrested at stores in Mastic after, police said, they each illegally sold alcohol to "underage agents."

Arrested were Melissa Perri, 43, of Amityville, Maria Tavarez, 45, of Copiague, and Shahid Rashid, 28, of Shirley. Each was charged with first-degree unlawfully dealing with a child.

Police said Perri was arrested at a Valero gas station in Mastic, while Tavarez was arrested at the Mastic Mini-Mart and Rashid was arrested at a store called Shop With Us.

The investigations were conducted at 11 locations in Mastic, Rocky Point, Shirley and Center Moriches, police said. Police said some locations were chosen "based on complaints from the community." Others were selected at random.

They said clerks at the other eight locations refused to sell alcohol to the underage agents.

The three clerks arrested are all scheduled for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.