Police Chief Witnessed No Drinking at Party
Barrington Police Chief John LaCross was at the party at Gov. Chafee's estate where a teen got alcohol poisoning.
Barrington Police Chief John LaCross – an active member of The BAY Team, Barrington’s substance-abuse prevention coalition -- said he saw no drinking at the party hosted by Gov. Lincoln Chafee’s son on Memorial Day that led to a teenager, 18, being hospitalized for alcohol poisoning, according to the Providence Journal.
LaCross attended the party at the governor’s estate in Exeter. And he met Chafee’s son, Caleb, who did not appear intoxicated, LaCross said.
The police chief also said he didn’t see any alcohol, according to the Providence Journal.
But the chief also said he is disappointed by most of the teens at the party for pleading their Fifth Amendment rights against self-incrimination when State Police investigators tried to interview them about the young woman. See a separate story posted by WPRO radio.
LaCross has been an active member of The BAY Team for years. He speaks frequently to teens in an effort to curb underage drinking. He was outspoken about the need for the Town Council to set conditions on identity checks for liquor stores wanting to open in Barrington.
Manifold Witness
9:52 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
Houligan: “Fife, welcome!”
Fife: “Thanks for inviting me and Thelma Lou”.
Houligan: “Fife…you know the rules now…don’t look over there… Alford Fafee’s out there with some other dudes and an underage chick…”
Fife: “Oh. Thanks for the warning. Hee hee…you warning me. Just the usual fun with Alford Fafee, right?”
Houligan: “Right. I can’t wait ‘til that kid turns 21.”
Fife: “Here’s a nice bottle of wine, Houlie – you know a hostess gift”.
Houligan: “Thanks.”
Fife: “Anyone asks, I didn’t see any alcohol…I’m closing my eyes & handing it over.”
Houligan: “Got it.”
Fife’s cell phone rings Stars & Stripes Forever:“Yes, Sergeant? On the scanner? A problem at the Fafee place? Drunken 18 year old girl? Alcohol poisoning?... 911? Uh… I’ll check it out…. Yes…uh, I’m at the Fafee place…yes. ..where the ‘party’ is…Uh…’Dinner party’. Yes.”
Fife (later): “No problem here, Sarge. I spoke with Alford. Yeah, he’s taking the Fifth as usual. They'll say she was 'sick'. All the other kids will get lawyered up and take the Fifth also. Then I’ll tell the press I didn’t see any alcohol and I’ll blame the stupid kids for taking the Fifth. That’ll work. What? The Providence Police Chief got caught & his situation wasn’t as bad as this? Yeah, well, I’m not him! Governor Fafee loves me – he put me on the Ethics Commission….Go Bay Team! I’m untouchable!”
Kelly
10:09 pm on Monday, June 25, 2012
The reason that the task force in the town of Barrington is ineffective is due largely to the fact that those in charge do not feel as though underage drinking is a problem. They feel it is "normal" and should be "controlled". The Chief had his own daughter involved in a drinking incident which went unmentioned, her name was never taken at the party a few years ago. The Chief keeps winning awards and accepting accolades for his fantastic job of thwarting underage substance use when he is in reality a full blooded enabler. Right now the Chief is following his usual protocol, don't look-don't see.
Jack Baillargeron
12:57 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
I mean really, The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
Well I guess the we can look on the bright side the the teen poisoned is alive and hopefully has not done any permanent damage to their body.
Anyone else know a teen that when onfronted by an over 6ft State police officer about who may have been drinking that takes the 5th, again I mean really, The teens suddenly all took the 5th when interviewed?
Wow this is strange. One wonders why so many teens are getting killed lately, what shame and a tragedy yet again in my opinion.
Townie
8:07 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
I find it ironic that when in Barrington, there is no gray area. Arrest every kid no matter the circumstances. Out of town and political? Different story. What about the host law?
Manifold Witness
8:34 am on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Now that the Chief is giving interviews, we have lots of questions. For starters:
What time did LaCross arrive at the estate?
What time did LaCross speak with Caleb?
Were the adults (including LaCross) drinking alcohol?
Did LaCross speak to Caleb, any of Caleb's party guests, or related parties after the Chief's brief meeting with Caleb?
What time did LaCross leave the estate?
When did LaCross first learn of any of the events detialed in State Trooper Melissa Giardina's report (12RIK3-406-OF) or of the report itself?
Manifold Witness
1:42 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
See especially pages 2 and 3 of the report about the "restocking" of the alchol (which would seem to indicate the knowledge of it having been "stocked" in the first place), the strong smell of alcohol, the number of "empties", the activities of the adults vis-a-vis alcohol & the location, the time frame etc.
Lots of questions remain.
If the kids weren't drinking alcohol there, then the adults had an awful lot to drink during the hour before the police arrived.
http://www.630wpro.com/goout.asp?u=http://www.630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2479866&spid=38784
Pledgling
7:56 pm on Saturday, July 21, 2012
You are right about the restocking of the alcohol. It also seems to me that it had to be stocked in the first place, and then restocked. Good attention to detail. I do agree with LaCross on his view of the participants pleading the fifth. They should go to court, tell the truth, and get the situation behind them.
Kelly
2:33 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Caleb was arrested in April http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2012/apr/10/11/police-chafees-underage-son-tried-buy-beer-ar-995360/
Kelly
2:40 pm on Tuesday, June 26, 2012
The chief doesn't arrest every kid in Barrington for drinking or using drugs, the jail would be full. He does let friends and political agendas guide his arrests. As I said previously, he is not an honest man and does not understand the dangers of underage drinking. It's not just parties, and driving, it's the accepted mindset that drinking in moderation is a normal teen thing that puts the town in peril. And as far as the recent Caleb drinking event, how many strikes does he get? Arrested in April, supposedly a one time incident, everyone raved "he's really a good kid" Good kids don't drink or provide alcohol, or do drugs, bad kids do. And what about the social hosting law, oh, that doesn't count for politicians and their friends...
annonymous
3:29 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
What earth are you from?Good kids don't drink ,or provide alcohol?What?I have never heard of this before,my son comes home with stories,and some of the kids he mentions i would never ever think of them doing such things.Sorry Kelly you are so wrong wrong wrong.
Ella
5:31 pm on Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Well I'm for the earth where parents don't teach, allow or otherwise enable their teens to drink. You obviously are of the mindset of many Barrington parents and take underage drinking and drug use lightly, sort of a right of passage. The problem with Barrington is the parents, and it's safe to say you are a major contributor to the problem. Believe it, not all kids drink and use drugs, and not all parents condone that behavior. Funny, you try to make fun of my opinion in an attempt to push back my vocalizing my view as if you can quiet my opinion by making me feel foolish. Probably something you taught your child as well. Bully the non drinker : ) Be loud and push your point about drinking as normal and maybe everyone will believe it? I don't think so, doesn't work, we all know the truth. Good parents don't accept underage substance use and good kids don't use substances. It's not normal, over and out from planet earth to the man from mars.