Teen Charged after Party Gone Wild

An underage drinking party that got out of hand Saturday evening has led to charges against one Wyckoff teen, according to township police.

Police said they caught wind of the raucous shindig around 11:30 p.m. on Sept. 15 and responded to the home near Wyckoff and Lafayette avenues.

Wyckoff Police Sgt. Jack McEwan and Patrolman Andrew Poremba responded and found a party underway in which many of the revelers were drinking alcohol underage, according to cops.

Partygoers fled the scene when police arrived; others were found hiding inside the home — including in the attic — cops said. Booze was also found scattered around the home, officials said.

Cops say they found a 16-year-old girl drunk and vomiting in the home. Officials notified her parents, who responded to the scene and declined medical attention for the juvenile.

The home owner's 17-year-old daughter was left home alone, and told police that she invited friends over to the house without the knowledge of her mother, cops said.

The situation got out of hand as more people arrived, many bringing alcohol, she reportedly told police.

She was charged on a juvenile complaint with making property available for underage persons to consume alcoholic beverages. The complaint was referred to juvenile court. 

The girl's parents were not home, had no knowledge that the party would be occurring, and were not charged, police said Thursday.

The girl told her parents she would be staying at a friend's house while they were away, but instead stayed home and threw the party, cops told Wyckoff Patch.

"The parents should converse with the parents where she intends to stay. They probably did not," police reported. "By doing so, another adult would assume some level of oversight and responsibility."

Parents should also tell their kids to call for help if they need it, police said.

"The party got out of hand and she [failed] to call," police said. "Call anyone for help. Parents, friends, police. That's better than criminal charges or a lawsuit after something really bad happens."

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