An East Bridgewater vape shop was given a cease and desist order for allegedly selling products amid ban
Authorities said they received citizen complaints about the business.
An East Bridgewater vape shop was recently handed a cease and desist order from local officials after a police investigation found the business allegedly continued to sell products in violation of the ongoing, statewide ban, authorities said.
The town’s Board of Health wrote the order given to Lifestyle Vape, located on Bedford Street, on Oct. 29, police said.
“The order comes after several complaints from residents to police throughout the month of October that Lifestyle Vape was continuing to sell vaping products during the state-issued ban,” authorities said in a press release issued Nov. 1. “Some of the complaints mentioned the alleged sale of products to minors.”
In September, Gov. Charlie Baker declared a public health emergency amid a nationwide outbreak of vaping-related lung injuries and instituted a four-month ban on the sale of all vaping products. The move has been challenged in court but remains intact.
In Massachusetts, two people have died from vaping-related lung illnesses, officials said.
East Bridgewater police launched an investigation into Lifestyle Vape based off the citizen complaints, authorities said.
On Oct. 29, a detective watched a man leave the store, put an item into his pocket, and drive out of the shop’s parking lot in his vehicle, officials said.
“Approximately 20 minutes later, in an unrelated incident, an East Bridgewater Police officer pulled the same driver over for failing to stop at a stop sign,” the press release says. “After hearing that the man had been pulled over, the detective arrived at the scene and spoke to the operator.
“Through the ensuing investigation, it was determined that the man had purchased a vaping product from Lifestyle Vape,” according to the release. “The item was then seized as evidence.”
Health officials were told about the alleged incident and the order was issued, according to officials, who say the store could also potentially be fined and face “other disciplinary action from the town.”
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