Crime & Safety

Cops: Mom, Daughters Threw Underage Booze Party

Resident arrested on drug charges, outstanding warrant

A mother and her two daughters were arrested last week and charged with throwing an underage drinking party.

Lora Schwacke, 51, and her daughters Meryl, 22, and Renee, 18, of Carriage Lane were allegedly found behind a locked door after police broke up a party attended by dozens of youths, police said.

Sgt. Michael Ragucci and Patrolman Brian Zivkovich responded to a home at 11:14 p.m. Aug. 10 on reports of a loud party. They said they arrived to find people running from the property and warning others of the arrival of police.

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The Carriage Lane home was marked by evidence of a drinking party, as the front lights of the home were shut off, the back yard was littered with beer cans and a "beer pong" table was set up on the home's patio, police said. Upon arrival, police said approximately 50 teens fled the home.

Ragucci and Zivkovich announced their presence and entered the home via the back door, which was left standing open, in an attempt to locate the homeowner and determine whether anyone needed medical attention. The responding officers said they found a group of minors in the basement, all who claimed not to know the homeowner. The officers continued on to the second floor of the house and tried the door to the master bedroom bathroom; it was locked. They tried to open it but were met with resistance, despite the absence of a verbal acknowledgement as to whether anyone was inside, police said.

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When the door was finally opened, the officers encountered Renee Schwacke, who said she lived at the house, police said. The officer entered the bathroom and saw Meryl Schwacke standing inside. Ragucci pulled back the shower curtain and said he found Lora Schwacke "crouched in the corner of the shower as if attempting to hide."

All three women were charged with making property available to minors to consume alcoholic beverages as well as with maintaining property for an illegal purpose. They were released on their own recognizance and are scheduled to appear in Municipal Court on Sept. 23.

  • Officers responding to a warrant out of Montville ended up also arresting a resident on drug charges.

Police said they responded to a Van Schaik Lane home on Monday to arrest the homeowner on an outstanding warrant but observed a glass crack pipe. The ensuing investigation led police to charge Gary Durocher, 43, with possession of cocaine and possession of narcotics paraphernalia in addition to his arrest on the warrant.

The charges have been referred to Superior Court.

  • A Carriage Lane resident reported a burglary at her home on Aug. 12.

The resident said a television, electronic equipment and jewelry were stolen. Police said the burglar gained entry to the home by cutting a screen and prying open a window.

  • A Fair Lawn man was arrested on drug charges after a traffic stop on Aug. 12.

Sgt. Ragucci stopped Robert Reindeau, 18, for allegedly traveling 76 mph on Route 208 at 2:45 a.m. that morning. Ragucci said the subsequent investigation turned up marijuana in Reindeau's car.

The motorist was charged with possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a motor vehicle, speeding and violation of his provisional driver's license.

Reindeau was released on his own recognizance and will appear in Municipal Court.


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