The Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) is investigating the possible illegal possession and sale of alcoholic beverages at a Centreville restaurant.
The issue came to light, March 13, during a routine, ABC, undercover sting operation at Beijing Restaurant at 5635 Stone Road. Special Agent A. Baker Goodman, with ABC's Alexandria regional office, was in the restaurant then, around 1 p.m.
In a March 15 affidavit for a search warrant to obtain further evidence of a crime — such as alcoholic beverages and paperwork relating to their sale or purchase — he explained what happened. "This agent observed a waitress of this establishment serve alcohol to one of the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Board's underage buyers," he wrote. "This event resulted in this agent arresting the waitress for the illegal sale of alcohol to someone less than 21."
Goodman further wrote that, upon returning to his office, he discovered that the Beijing Restaurant reportedly has no license to sell alcohol on its premises. He returned last Tuesday, March 19, with a search warrant, seizing: 12 bottles of Sutter Home wine, a bottle of Coors Light beer, 22 bottles of Tsingtao beer, eight bottles of Heineken beer, 33 bottles of Budweiser and 12 bottles of Bud Light beer, 22 bottles of Corona Extra and seven bottles of Corona Light beer, various tax and bank documents and a stack of guest checks.
Phil Disharoon, assistant special agent in charge, of the Alexandria ABC office, said Wednesday that the ABC has not cited Beijing Restaurant. However, he said it's still under investigation for the possible possession of alcohol on the premises of a restaurant not licensed to sell alcohol, the illegal sale of alcohol, and aiding and abetting the possession of alcohol at an unlicensed establishment.
<tgl> — BONNIE HOBBS