An unlicensed bartender has been arrested for serving alcohol to a drunk driver who later killed an off-duty Florida police officer.
The Lake Worth Police Department arrested 26-year-old bartender Cala Richardson, who did not have a licence, for overserving convicted drink driver Dylan Molina before the collision that killed police officer Alex Cervantes and injured his wife and family.
Police evidence gathered from video surveillance at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Lake Worth, Florida, indicated that Richardson overserved Molina on the evening of 21st November, 2021.
The Lake Worth Police Department said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “During the investigation, Detectives uncovered information suggesting that the suspect was overserved by Richardson, who at the time was a bartender at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop in Lake Worth.”
“Additional evidence revealed that Richardson’s Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission server’s licence had expired at the time she served the suspect,” the statement said.
The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code prohibits the sale of alcohol to an intoxicated individual, but TABC certification is not required by state law, though it is generally encouraged.
According to the arrest document, Richardson reportedly handed Molina eight vodka and Red Bull cocktails over a three-hour period, roughly 20-30 minutes apart.
Molina’s blood alcohol level was double the legal limit when he ran a red light and hit Detective Alex Cervantes’ car, killing him and placing his wife, Priscilla Cervantes, in a coma for more than a month.
Their two boys, Joshua and Jake, were also seriously injured.
Cala Richardson is charged with one count of Sale to Certain Persons – a Class A Misdemeanor punishable by up to 1 year in jail and a USD 4,000 (GBP 3,335) fine.
In January, Molina pled guilty to intoxication manslaughter and three counts of drunken assault.
He was sentenced to 15 years in jail for manslaughter and 10 years each for assault, but will only serve 15 years since the judge ordered the terms to run concurrently.
