Crime & Safety

Newport CVS Cited for Selling Marlboros to 17-Year-Old

The CVS on Bellevue Avenue was handed a citation today for selling cigarettes to a minor after a clerk sold a pack of Marlboros to an undercover agent on Monday.

The CVS on Bellevue Avenue was handed a citation today for selling cigarettes to a minor after a clerk sold a pack of Marlboros to an undercover agent on Monday.

Police said they made a check of 18 tobacco retailers throughout the city. All refused to sell cigarettes to the agent, 17, who was told by officers working the tobacco compliance detail to tell any clerk that he didn’t have ID and state his real age if asked.

At the CVS, the agent walked in around 6:24 p.m., police said, and the clerk, 21, sold the agent a pack without asking for ID.

Find out what's happening in Newportwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police identified the clerk as a 21-year-old Newport man. He reportedly told police he thought the agent was over 18. Though he will likely be in trouble with his employer, he is not facing any charge. Police said the business, not the clerk, is cited in instances when tobacco is sold to a minor.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.