On the morning of August 2, The Norwich Police Department arrested two individuals working at the A&R Smoke Shop in the City of Norwich. The two men faced charges related to selling alcohol and tobacco to underage residents. (Photo by Lilli Iannella)

NORWICH– Following an investigation into the sale of alcohol and tobacco to underage residents, the Norwich Police Department (NPD) arrested the store owner and another worker of the A&R Smoke Shop on North Broad Street in the City of Norwich around 10:30 a.m. on August 2.

“This was a revolving door for our underage youth to purchase these products,” said NPD Chief Reuben J. Roach.

Store owner Jaswinder Singh, 42, of Norwich, was charged with two counts of first-degree unlawful dealing with a child and two counts of second-degree unlawful dealing with a child. Harminder Singh, 42, of Norwich, was also charged with one count of first-degree unlawful dealing with a child and one count of second-degree unlawful dealing with a child.

Roach said the two men arrested are not related.

According to The New York State Senate, unlawfully dealing with a child in the first degree covers the sale of alcohol to those under the age of 21, and the second-degree charge includes the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 21.