Bartlett clerks charged with selling tobacco to minors

Bartlett police have arrested three store clerks who they say sold tobacco to minors.

The arrests resulted from a round of tobacco compliance checks police conducted at 26 local vendors, Sgt. Michael McGuigan said. The employees of three separate stores were cited for breaking a local ordinance against selling tobacco to minors, he said:

• Khawaja Husain, 57, of 1255 Fleetwood Drive in Elgin, was cited around 7 p.m. May 22 at Westgate Pantry, 790 W. Bartlett Road, police said.

• Shra Dhdhaben Patel, 21, of 619 Grenache Court in Bartlett, was ticketed around 8 p.m. the same night at the AM/PM store at 5590 County Farm Road, police said.

• Gordhanbhai Patel, 65, of 136 Horizon Circle in Carol Stream, was arrested around 8:40 p.m. May 22 at the Marathon Oil service center, 555 E. Lake St., police said said. Their Rolling Meadows court appearances are set for July 9.

The checks are made in conjunction with the Illinois Liquor Commission, which provides vendors with education material to help employees prevent the sale of tobacco to minors, McGuigan said.

• Daily Herald staff writer Freida Gad contributed to this report.