Teen Calls Cops on His Own Rowdy House Party; 28 Arrested
For a teenager hosting a party while his parents are out of town, having the cops show up is typically the worst possible scenario.
But one teenager in Puyallup, Washington, not only welcomed the arrival of the police to his out-of-control house party last weekend, he had actually summoned them himself, after 70 kids from 11 local high schools began destroying his house and running amok in his neighborhood, reports Seattle's KOMO-TV.
What did police find when they got there?
28 Arrested in 'Beer- and Liquor-Bottle Strewn House'
According to a press release on Pierce County's website, police responding to the party arrested 27 people ages 15 to 20 for minor in possession of alcohol and another 18-year-old on an outstanding DUI warrant, typically issued when a DUI suspect fails to appear in court.
The police reported hearing glass breaking and a fight getting started in the house as they entered. The 16-year-old boy who lived at the house -- whose parents were out of town for the night -- had called police after the party had taken a turn for the destructive. One group of two dozen kids reportedly broke down the backyard fence and "stampeded across a neighbor's yard." Police also reported that "the beer- and liquor-bottle strewn house" had "a strong odor of marijuana."
Potential Civil Liability
In addition to arrests, police warn that parents who leave children home unattended over the weekend may face civil liability for injuries, crimes, or property destruction that occur as the result of an out-of-control party.
Parents may potentially be found negligent in a number of ways, such as:
- Premises liability. A person injured on your property, even while intoxicated, may be able to bring suit under a theory of premises liability.
- Social host liability. Some states have social host liability laws which make party hosts responsible for injuries or deaths caused by serving alcohol to minors or to those who are overly intoxicated.
- Negligent supervision. Parents can also be held vicariously liable for the acts of their children if they were negligent in failing to properly supervise them.
Police recommend that parents going out of town arrange for an adult friend or family member to stay at the home while they are away or even ask police to patrol the house during their absence.
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Related Resources:
- Teen's Party Gets So Wild He Calls The Cops On Himself (Reuters)
- Do You Need Insurance for a House Party? (FindLaw's Injured)
- Director Brett Ratner Sued Over Alleged House Party Injury (FindLaw's Celebrity Justice)
- Injured at College House Party? Can You Sue? (FindLaw's Injured)
