UPDATE: Walmart Faces Suspension of Liquor License After Clerk Allegedly Sells Alcohol to Minor

The Oak Park Heights City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Police Chief Brian DeRosier's request to impose a $1,000 fine and a five-day suspension of Wal-Mart’s liquor license after an employee allegedly sold alcohol to underage person.

Walmart has the right to a hearing to show cause, according to the city’s alcohol ordinance. If Walmart chooses to go that route, the hearing would take place during the Feb. 12 City Council meeting.

On Nov. 23, the Oak Park Heights Police Department investigated and revealed a sale of alcohol to a minor, DeRosier wrote in a memo to the City Council.

“This sale was not part of any police compliance checks,” DeRosier wrote. “The investigation was in response to complaint received by officers on duty of possible under 21 persons trying to purchase alcohol at another location and having been refused.”

Police later located the suspects at Walmart after they had just purchased alcohol, DeRosier wrote.

Marjorie Elizabeth Cogger, 63, of Stillwater was charged with a gross misdemeanor, DeRosier told the Pioneer Press, after she allegedly sold a 24-pack of Bud Light, a 12-pack of Rolling Rock and a bottle of Jagermeister to an 18-year-old West Lakeland Township man who had a fake ID at the time of the sale.

The teen was cited for possession of a fake ID and possession of alcohol by a minor, both misdemeanors, DeRosier told the Pioneer Press.

“No attempt was made by the sales clerk to verify the age of the person with any form of identification,” the memo reads.

The police chief is asking the council to also impose a $1,000 sanction and five-day suspension of all alcohol sales at Wal-Mart starting on Jan. 28 and ending at the start of normal business on Feb. 2.

The Superbowl is slated for Sunday, Feb. 3

This is Walmart’s second alcohol violation in two years, the chief wrote. The prior violation occurred on Dec. 21, 2010.

Walmart has the right to a hearing to show cause, according to the city’s alcohol ordinance. The hearing would take place at 7 p.m. during the Feb. 12 City Council meeting.