MAPLE VALLEY, Wash. — A Maple Valley smoke shop manager has been arrested for allegedly selling narcotics and alcohol to underage customers.
During a two-month investigation, undercover detectives were able to purchase prescription pills, marijuana, heroin, and cocaine from the Cigar Land Smoke Shop manager.
When detectives executed a search warrant at the business, they found more narcotics, including cocaine and ecstasy. They also found marijuana and edible products.
Cigar Land Smoke Shop is not legally licensed to sell marijuana.
At the time of the manager's arrest on Friday, three underage kids were in the store attempting to buy tobacco products from him. Detectives said the kids were heard discussing prices for harder drugs with the employee.
The 29-year-old manager has been charged with multiple counts of felony narcotics violations.
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The state Liquor Control Board shut down store operations, however, it has since been cleared to reopen after a thorough inspection.
The store is family-owned and the owners are now trying to rebuild trust with the community.
"We were very shocked and getting so much stress from all of it," said Don Yim, who is the store owner's son.
Yim said he's providing investigators with store surveillance video. When he reviewed the videos, he said it appears the manager would wait until the owner left after opening the store and then make a phone call. A short time later, people who appear to be underage would start coming into the store, Yim said.
Family members said they haven’t been able to sleep since it happened, “We were having trauma about this situation.”