1994: The Original Ho-Down (2) - 5/2/1994
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Union-News (Springfield, MA)
May 2, 1994 |
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Edition: HAMPSHIRE
Section: NEWS
Page: 26 |
Amherst police arrest 27 people in keg party sting
Author: DAVID GREENBERG; WILLIAM SWEET
STAFFUNION-NEWS (Springfield, Mass.)
Article Text:
Twenty-seven people will be arraigned today and tomorrow after an undercover sting operation broke up an off-campus party attended by more than 1,000 people.
An additional nine people face alcohol-related charges in separate incidents in this college town.
The arrests left a sour taste in some student's mouths.
"They don't let you do anything anymore," said Kim Nelson, a bartender and student who was at the party.
"I don't see why (police) bust them up," she told the Associated Press. "There was no harm being done, except maybe underage drinking."
Party shut down
The arraignments will take place in Northampton District Court.
An undercover sting operation involving 24 of Amherst's 34 officers shut down the off-campus party at Gilbreath's Manor Apartments on Hobart Lane, officer David Knightly said.
Besides the 27 arrests at the party, officers confiscated an unspecified amount of cash and 12 beer kegs, 11 of which were already empty at the time of the 4 p.m. raid, he said. The party began several hours earlier.
The "Hobart Hoe-Down" party was advertised late last week throughout the University of Massachusetts campus.
Organizers of the party used a wood-and-wire snow fence to cordon off an area behind the center building and charged $6 admission for each person who entered the premises, Knightly said. He said two undercover officers entered the party area about 3 p.m.
An hour later, 24 officers, many of whom had been called to duty specifically for the raid, descended upon Gilbreath's apartments and broke up the party.
Variety of charges
Police arrested 27 people on charges ranging from being minors in possession of alcohol, open container laws, disorderly conduct, running an illegal bar, dispensing alcohol to minors, and selling alcohol without a permit, police records show.
One individual also was arrested for possession of marijuana, police said.
Police in unrelated incidents also arrested nine other college-age individuals on alcohol-related charges from 3 p.m. Saturday to 3 a.m. yesterday, according to police.
Everyone arrested was released soon afterward on personal recognizance, police said.
Two years ago the town passed a bylaw requiring those who buy a keg to also get a permit from police. One year before, officials passed another bylaw outlawing open alcohol containers.
LENGTH: 14
Copyright, 1994, The Republican Company, Springfield, MA. All Rights Reserved. Used by NewsBank with Permission.
Record Number: MERLIN_276498
