Westbrook’s fight against underage drinking yielded results again Saturday as police broke up a house party and cited 11 minors for underage drinking.
One man was arrested for assaulting an officer.
The bust was the latest in the department’s efforts targeting house parties in Westbrook since the summer, when police began special details to prevent underage drinking. One of those house parties resulted in the suspension of at least 10 Westbrook High School athletes from sports and a subsequent revision of the school department policy on substance abuse.
Police Capt. Tom Roth said an underage drinking detail responded to a call just after midnight from residents of Ann Terrace, off Longfellow Place. The caller said a large party was under way on the street, and cars were parked along both sides of the street, blocking several driveways.
Police responded, discovering about 30 to 40 young people, some of whom were underage, said Roth. He said the group consisted mainly of University of Southern Maine students, drinking from a keg of beer and an assortment of liquor.
Roth said officers identified three tenants of the home and cited them for furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. Police also cited 11 minors for possession of alcohol.
They also arrested one man for violating bail and possession of prescription drugs, while arresting another man for assaulting an officer. Roth said the man arrested for assault slammed a door on an officer’s arm to prevent entry and then scuffled with the officer, refusing to submit to an arrest.
Roth said Saturday’s bust was one of a number the police have conducted since receiving a grant from the state in the summer of 2005. Since then, Westbrook police have undergone special training and have been working overtime hours on a variety of details directed toward preventing underage drinking and underage access to alcohol. One of the more successful details has been groups of eight or nine officers locating and breaking up parties where alcohol is being provided to underage drinkers, such as Saturday’s party.
Roth said the department received $9,500 from the state in 2006 for the special details and training. He said he expects the state to again provide funding in 2007 to continue the work done this year, which he said was worth the money. Roth said Cumberland County provided Westbrook $4,000 in grant money this year and would be providing another $3,000 in January.
Roth said he was pleased that neighbors reported Saturday’s party and hopes that other Westbrook residents would do the same in the future. No one from the university was available to comment on the incident by American Journal deadline.
Residents can direct calls to the police’s underage drinking hotline at 854-0644, extension 7.
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