Summit County deputies got a report Saturday night of a big party with juveniles and alcohol, and an estimated 150 youngsters scattered when officers arrived.
Officers were told later that a small gathering, planned for a residence in the hills north of I-80, was swarmed by party crashers after word about the party got around.
Sheriff’s Lt. Andrew Wright told KPCW that dispatch got an anonymous call from an adult. The woman said that she had seen photos on social media of a large party and it as evident alcohol was involved.
Three Summit County deputies, and a Park City officer, responded to an address on Glenwild Drive. The first deputy saw at least 50 cars parked along the road.
The officers estimated 150 youths were on hand, who fled on foot in all directions. Lt. Wright said they found about 10 juveniles were still at the scene who were not drinking. The one resident in the house was a 15-year-old girl.
“It sounds like this juvenile told the deputies that everything was fine at the residence,” Lt. Wright said. “That they needed to get a search warrant if they wanted to have anything to do with getting inside the residence.”
Officers went through dispatch and contacted the girl’s mother, who was returning to the house, just a few minutes away. The mother made her daughter come out and talk to the officers.
“The mother had knowledge that there was supposed to be a party of only about 10 friends of the daughter show up. Word of the party soon spread, and it grew to more than 150. This sounds like it was an innocent gathering of friends that quickly spread that there was a party.”
The Lieutenant said this was one of those instances where they addressed the incident with the help of the parent.
“You know something like this, we always rely on the parents to cooperate with us and to help us hold juveniles accountable for whatever actions. If they were participating in unlawful conduct, then of course we solicit the help of the parents to drive home the point that what they’re doing is not acceptable. It sounds like in this case the mother was very cooperative with our deputies.”
Several bottles of alcohol, at various levels of consumption, were found around the property.
He said that officers did not give out any citations.
“You’re dealing with a large group of juveniles who were gathering. There obviously was alcohol involved. Trying to determine which of those 150 had actually consumed the alcohol when you had three or four officers on scene makes it obviously very difficult. Our deputies have been trained to of course use their discretion make good judgment calls. Work with legal guardians of the juveniles to make sure that first of all their safe, second of all that we’re not allowing any of these juveniles, if they have consumed alcohol, to get behind the wheel.”
Lt. Wright added that they didn’t know how word of the party got around, but he noted photos on social media prompted the original complaint.
