Two parents on Howard Street have been charged for hosting a large gathering of teens where there was allegedly underage drinking.
On Saturday, March 11, Verona Police Department officers were sent to a Howard Street home because a large group of juveniles were fighting on its front lawn. Once there, they observed some 50 teens on the street and front lawns, as well as many open containers and bottles of alcohol.
Officer Clark attempted to clear the teens from the area, and learned that two males had shattered a car’s window by throwing bottles it. The VPD says Clark was also told that there had been a fight between one of those individuals and a passenger of the damaged vehicle. The witness identified one of the people involved, who was walking away from the scene on Forest Avenue. When Officer Clark and Lieutenant Condorelli tried to stop him, he threw a bottle of alcohol on the ground and began to flee from the officers on foot. Officer Clark caught him and the 17-year-old was into custody and later released to a parent.
After further investigation, Officer Clark charged both homeowners of the residence with 2C:33-17(B), making the residence available to minors for the purpose of consuming alcohol, a disorderly person’s offense. Both homeowners will be required to appear in Verona Municipal Court and, if convicted, they could face 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine. The VPD did not identify the adults by name.
The VPD said in a statement that it “remains committed to holding homeowners responsible when their residences are made available to children for the purpose of consuming alcohol.”
This incident is still under investigation and has been turned over to the VPD’s juvenile officers and Detective Bureau.
