OK Liquors May Lose License

The state will likely revoke liquor license, police say, following Wednesday’s arrest of an employee accused of selling prescription drugs from the store’s drive-through window.

The package store at 3607 N. Nebraska Ave. previously had its license pulled by the state in 2009 following complaints of criminal activity, according to state records. The license was reinstated after payment of a civil penalty.

In the most recent incident, undercover officers acting on a tip had purchased Viagra pills on three occasions at the store’s drive-through, paying $16 for each pill, according to police Lt. William Ferguson.

Viagra is a prescription drug used to treat impotence in men.

Officers searched OK Liquors late Wednesday afternoon and found 43 Viagra pills and nine Cialis pills, another prescription medication for impotence, Ferguson said in a press release.

Douglas Dale Arp, 55 of 1213 E. Palifox St., Tampa, was arrested at the store on charges of possessing Viagra and Cialis with intent to sell; and possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. He was being held this morning on $5,000 bail, according to jail records.

He was just one of the employees selling drugs, Ferguson said, adding more arrests are expected. He said the pills were mailed to the store from Canada.

Representatives with the state Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco were on hand during the search “and will issue a revocation of the liquor license for the establishment,” Ferguson said.

Complaints about criminal activity at OK Liquors were also lodged in 2008, though no action was taken.