Police Bust Party, Charge Girl, 17
Barrington police and firefighters were called to a Middle Highway home Saturday for a complaint of open burning and loud noise.
A 17-year-old Barrington girl faces an alcohol-possession charge after police busted an early-morning party at her Middle Highway home on Saturday, Nov. 17
The girl’s mother was asleep in the house and claimed no knowledge of the drinking, according to Barrington Police Chief John LaCross.
A caller to a dispatcher complained of open burning and loud noise from teens hanging around the outside of a nearby house, LaCross said. Five patrol officers and firefighters on a pumper truck showed up at the house around 3:30 am after a search of the neighborhood.
Police officers entered the back yard and found a fire in an outdoor pit, three bottles of beer and a bottle of Jagermeister liquer, said LaCross. The liquer has a reputation for getting drinkers intoxicated quickly especially when served as a shooter.
None of the teens at the party acknowledged that the alcohol belonged to them, so the 17-year-old girl was charged, he said.
There was no drinking taking place in the house, LaCross said. The girl said her parents were sleeping inside.
She woke her mother to talk to the police. The mother denied any knowledge of the alcohol at the gathering.
The girl received a date to show up in Family Court with her parents, LaCross said.
Anon
10:05 am on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Don't these cops in town have anything better to do than bust parties and speeders? Clearly we have way too many cops on the payroll. For Pete's sake, just tell the girl to put it away and don't do it again. It's not like she was driving drunk. You don't have to throw the book at her and haul her into court for something that EVERYONE - including those cops - has done.
Lorraine F
12:24 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Anon,
There are grave markers in the area dedicated to people who went to a juvenile party, left drunk, and are now only a memory to friends and family.
You need to think a little harder before you post.
I give thanks to the police for deciding to do the right thing.
Anon
5:39 pm on Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Lorraine: I thought long and hard about that one. If the alcohol laws weren't so GD puritanical in the US, it would be much less of a problem.
Kids under the age of 21 are going to drink. Period. In many cases, they drink specifically because it's illegal, risky, and cool. If it weren't so risky and cool, then kids wouldn't sneak around so much doing it.
Aside from the drinking age, there is no indication in that article that the girl or her friends were acting irresponsibly with respect to the alcohol. By throwing the book at kids who have a little party, do no harm whatsoever, and generally act responsibly, the cops not only exacerbate the problem by making it riskier and cooler to drink, they also pit kids against cops. That's a lot less healthy than a beer or two.
I don't give thanks to the Barrington cops for anything. I remember getting pulled over when I was a kid by a Barrington cop who slurred when he asked me for my license and reeked of hard liquor. Since then I don't trust that hypocritical bunch one bit.