In a crackdown on the illegal sale of nicotine products to minors, deputies from the Twin Peaks Sheriff Station made arrests during a sting operation targeting vape shops in the Lake Arrowhead, Blue Jay, and Crestline areas, snagging two local men on a slew of charges, officials said. Two proprietors were caught red-handed selling to underage decoys, with one of them also facing drug and firearms charges, according to the SBSD - Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department.
The first operation took place at Vanity Vape in Lake Arrowhead where 63-year-old resident David Yohanna was caught selling a nicotine product to the underage decoy, prompting a report that will be forwarded to the District Attorney's office for potential PC 308(A) charges, whereas Michael Hansen a 54-year-old from Crestline not only sold nicotine to a minor but was later found to possess suspected methamphetamine a search warrant at the Mountain Smoke Shop yielded more incriminating items including drug paraphernalia and a loaded firearm which due to Hansen's prior felon status, led to his booking at Central Detention Center for PC 29800(A)(1) and HS 11370.1(A) violations, as reported by the SBSD - Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department.
Deputy Omar Romero from the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Station is leading the investigation, and anyone with further information is encouraged to come forward, with options to contact authorities directly or leave anonymous tips through the We-Tip Hotline or website.
