East Bay Woman Who Ran Illegal Alcohol Business At Lake Merritt Arrested: Police

OAKLAND, CA — A Union City woman was arrested earlier this month on suspicion of running an illegal alcohol business at a popular East Bay park.

Police say they warned the woman in June not to sell alcohol at Lake Merritt, but she continued, promoting her business online along the way.

So they set up a sting to see if she was still selling alcohol, according to the Oakland Police Department.

Officers on Friday had an underage decoy try to purchase alcohol from the woman, police said.

Not only did she sell alcohol to the decoy, but she didn't ask for any identification to prove that they were overage, police said.

The woman, whose identity was not immediately released, was arrested on suspicion of possessing and serving alcohol in a public park, police said.

The woman's vehicle was also towed after officers found she had 75 unpaid parking tickets, police said.

"After her arrest, she admitted she knew her operation was illegal and that she lacked the required permits," police said. "She was booked into Santa Rita Jail on charges related to unlawful alcohol sales."