From Niesha Lofing:
A Rocklin man was cited for petty theft after allegedly stealing beer and money from a minor decoy involved in a police sting operation in Rocklin.
The man agreed to purchase alcohol at the 19-year-old decoy's request, taking money from her to purchase beer, Rocklin police Sgt. Terry Roide said.
"He bought the beer and then the store clerk alerted him that the decoy was working with police," Roide said.
The man came outside and repeatedly asked the decoy if she was a cop and took off, he said.
"He took the beer and our change," Roide said. The decoy had given the man $10.
Officers caught up with Dayton Ray Hice, 46, and cited him for petty theft. He was released.
The clerk of the store was not punished for having alerted the man to the sting operation.
"They really did nothing wrong," he said. "(But) it's probably not a smart move by the clerk."
Tuesday's operation is part of a program the Rocklin, Roseville and Lincoln police departments are running in conjunction with the state Alcoholic Beverage Control to combat alcohol-related violations in south Placer County.
In the shoulder tap stings, minor decoys - who are usually 19 or older and interested in criminal justice - approach adults and tell them they aren't 21 and ask them buy alcoholic beverages.
But Tuesday's incident isn't the first time shoulder tap operations have run afoul.
During one of the first shoulder tap operations in August, officers held a sting at a Roseville grocery store. One of the men approached took the $20 the decoy offered and ran out the back of the store, Roide said.
Decoys have been propositioned for sex and been offered marijuana and other illegal drugs. One man tried to get the decoy to come to his vehicle. Officers found a ski mask and shotgun in the car, he said.
While minor decoy operations at restaurants and stores are typically more low key because they occur in more controlled environments, dealing with the public in shoulder-tap operations are unpredictable.
"You just never know," Roide said.
Police conducted the operation Tuesday at four locations in Rocklin, contacting 15 adults. Only one, Hice, was cited.
Police also conducted the operation at five locations in Lincoln, contacting 18 adults. One person purchased alcohol for the decoy and was cited for furnishing alcohol to a person under 21 years old.
The operations will continue each month through June. So far, 448 people at 49 locations have been contacted. Of those, officers have cited or arrested 30 in shoulder tap operations.
Officers also have visited 113 locations and cited 14 people in minor decoy operations.
The efforts are funded through the state Alcoholic Beverage Control grants.
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