RUMSON – Borough police have charged a Bellevue Ave. homeowner with maintaining a nuisance after police broke up an underage drinking party at the home of Adam and Roslyn Bryan, 60 Bellevue Ave. Saturday night.
According to Rumson Borough Police Chief Richard Tobias, Lt. Scott Paterson was on patrol at 9:54 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2012 when he encountered two female subjects in the area of Rumson Rd./Bellevue Ave. Upon further investigation it was determined that one of the female juveniles was extremely intoxicated. The female juvenile was taken into custody and eventually released to her parents. The juvenile is being charged with a juvenile complaint of disorderly conduct.
Further investigation of the area revealed that a large party was in progress at 60 Bellevue Ave. where underage consumption of alcohol was taking place.
“There have been more incidents like that one that we saw Saturday night,” Mayor John Ekdahl said on Monday. And in response to the growing number of similar incidents, Rumson has joined forces with Fair Haven, the regional high school and the middle schools from the two public school districts to establish the Municipal Alliance to Prevent Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Ekdahl said.
“We have been seeing more of that when the parents are actually involved in hosting the party,” he observed.
“It’s one thing for the kids to use the home when the parents are on vacation,” Ekdahl said. “But it’s quite another story if the parents are condoning it.”
Under current law, Tobias said, parents are able to give minor children alcohol in their own homes. However, they are most certainly not permitted to provide to other minor children, Ekdahl said. “That’s a place you don’t want to be, to take responsibility for 40 other children,” he said.
“I can’t imagine anybody wanting that responsibility,” he said.
The municipal alliance will be funded through the two towns and three schools and is expected to commence operating the beginning of the new school year in September, according to Ekdahl.
The charge against the homeowner is set to be heard at Rumson Municipal Court on May 9, 2012.
