Smoke Shop Employee Arrested After Compliance Check: Stratford Police

STRATFORD, CT — A smoke shop employee was arrested on drug charges after authorities conducted a compliance check at the store on Wednesday, according to Stratford police.

Detectives from the Stratford Police Department Narcotics, Vice and Intelligence Unit, along with agents from the state Department of Consumer Protection, CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Connecticut Department of Revenue, conducted compliance checks for the illegal sale of THC/cannabis at the S&T Smoke and Snack at 562 Honeyspot Road in Stratford, according to Capt. Jerry Pinto.

Authorities have conducted compliance checks multiple times over the past year, including this past May when three people were arrested.

In the compliance check on Dec. 11, Pinto said the CT Department Mental Health and Addiction Services used a confidential source under the age of 21 to try and make a purchase at the S&T Smoke and Snack Shop.

Store employee Amilca Miller, 24, was working behind the sales counter and sold the person a vape product without any age verification, according to Pinto.

“Amilca Miller told the [confidential source] to ‘check the vape before you leave’,” Pinto wrote in a news release. “This is done to make sure the vape product is properly functioning. The [confidential source] made the purchase using the provided case preparation funds (cash), exited the building and handed over the vape product to a DMHAS agent.”

Pinto said state agents “immediately conducted an inspection of the store as per statute.”

“It was quickly determined that the S & T Smoke Shop was in violation of many state statutes,” Pinto wrote.

Miller was arrested and charged with illegal possession with intent to sell cannabis and illegal operation of a drug factory. He was released after posting a $1,000 bond with a court date of Dec. 18.

Miller was also issued an infraction charging him with illegal sale of a vape product to underage minor ($300 fine), according to Pinto.

See also: Smoke Shop Investigation Leads To 3 Arrests: Stratford Police