Unsupervised Teen Weekend Party Ends up at the Police Station

( October 17, 2002 ) At 9:43 pm on Saturday, October 12, Town of Mamaroneck Police were called to a home at 2 Seton Road where a group of youth were congregating and possibly consuming alcohol. The neighbor stated this was a recurring situation and he had made numerous complaints in the past two years. The neighbors have seen empty beer cans get thrown in the sewer down the street, and are concerned that some of the revelers are driving after drinking. "These students are not only harming themselves, but putting others at risk," worried another neighbor with small children.

The officers did detect the presence of alcohol on the breath of one teen at the Saturday gathering, and observed alcohol containers in the home. The same teen struck and shoved the officer who was attempting to investigate further, and she was placed under arrest.

The adult homeowners were reported to be out of town, but another ten youths, residents of Town of Mamaroneck, Village of Mamaroneck, Village of Larchmont and New Rochelle, were found in the home and were taken to the Town police station. At the station, the Larchmont Volunteer Ambulance Corp attended to one teen who appeared to be suffering from alcohol intoxication. In the end, one teen was issued an appearance ticket and a summons, another received a summons, and all eleven were released into the custody of adult relatives, guardians or parents.

According to one parent called to the station to retrieve his child, it was just a typical party that occurs when parents are out of town. “This has been going on for thirty years, and more,” he said. In the past, he has called the police to report the same sort of behavior in his own neighborhood. “It doesn’t make you popular with the neighbors, or with your own children.” His child will be “grounded” in the coming weeks, no partying for a while.

Saturday’s unsupervised party was the type of socializing discussed the previous Thursday at the RADAR/PTA meeting on teen alcohol and drug use. The Hommocks cafeteria was full of school administrators, staff, counselors, and parents gathered to hear results of a survey on drug and alcohol use among Mamaroneck students. The weekend party confirms the results of the Mamaroneck survey: alcohol use is prevalent in the community. See Teen Alcohol for further articles on teen drinking and responses from the community, the police and other teens.

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