Dodge County Sheriff’s investigators conducted an undercover sting operation last month in Milan involving illegal alcohol sales.
Sheriff’s investigators allege that an individual was operating a bar in a shop behind his residence on Swain Street.
Investigators allege that the individual sold and served liquor along with beer on the premises from a counter in the shop.
Sheriff’s investigators twice made purchases of alcohol from the shop on Sundays.
Investigators served a search warrant on June 27 in Milan at the location and seized a huge quantity of alcohol of numerous brands of liquors and beers along with a gun.
Two (2) individuals were arrested as a result of the sting operation. The homeowner Alton Hurst (age 56) of Milan was arrested and charged with two (2) counts of selling alcoholic beverages without a license, two (2) counts of selling alcoholic beverages on Sunday, one (1) count sale of distilled spirits and for being in possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The second individual arrested was Irven Gaskins (age 59). Gaskins is charged with possession of marijuana. When investigators served the search warrant, it is alleged that Gaskins, who was on the premises, had marijuana in his possession.
Deputies arrested Matt Thomas Black (age 24) of Eastman, on July 13. Black is charged with statutory rape and child molestation.
George Smith (age 76) and Bessie Smith (age 75) were arrested by deputies on Sunday July 18 and charged with burglary. Deputies received a 911 call of someone removing property from a residence on Phillips-Estes Road. Deputies stopped the Smiths, recovered the property, and contacted the out of town home owner. The owner stated that he did not know the Smiths and the pair did not have permission to remove any property.
Not trying to excuse the lack of a license, but at the very least we should be moving on from pointless moral laws.
I too wish we could get rid of these archaic liquor laws in this county.