Alcohol Issue—

Police Disperse Youths

From House Party

Police report they received a call at about 8:42 pm on December 30, through which they learned that a party was underway at a home at 37 Poverty Hollow Road at which minors were consuming alcohol, so they investigated.

About 40 high school-age youths attended the party at the Pettinelli residence where alcohol was being used by some of the youths, police said. Attendance at that party exceeded what had been planned, police said.

“The homeowners were home during this time, however, there is no indication that the homeowners supplied and/or provided alcohol to the minors,” police said in a statement. Police said the homeowners were very cooperative with police who sought to have the youths leave the party and go home. 

Police said they used their “party dispersal plan” to ensure the safety of the youths leaving the gathering. That plan included parent notifications, checking on the condition of youths who had driven to the party, and ensuring those youths’ compliance with passenger restriction laws, police said.

Police said they issued homeowner John Pettinelli, 48, an infraction ticket bearing violations of two subsections of a state law concerning the possession of alcohol by minors in a dwelling or on private property. Each of the two violations carries a $136 fine, police said. Such fines are payable by mail.

Police noted that they are available to provide assistance to parents in the event that a gathering of underage persons grows beyond its expected attendance and alcohol unexpectedly appears at the event.