Vista: Sheriff's deputies arrest four for buying minors alcohol

Four men were arrested and cited for furnishing alcohol to a minor during a sting on Friday, deputies said today.

Vista sheriff's Deputy Jack Reed said 47 contacts were made at various establishments throughout Vista as deputies participated in a Minor Decoy Shoulder Tap Operation from 5 to 10 p.m.

Those arrested were identified as Luis Rivas, 27, Antonio Ponce, 30, Gabriel Silva, 45, and Jimmy Arevalo, 31.

Under the program, a minor directly supervised by a police officer stood outside a store and asked adults to buy alcohol for them. If the adults agree to purchase alcohol for the minor, deputies subsequently arrest and cite them.

Shoulder tap operations have helped reduce alcohol abuse and liquor abuse opportunities for minors, who generally have a higher rate of drunken driving crashes than adults.

The decoy program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.