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Cops Arrest 28 For Underage Drinking At Party In Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Ill. (CBS) -- Police in Riverside late Monday shut down an underage drinking party that attracted dozens of teens from across the western suburbs.

Two Riverside Public Works employees were the first to contact police. They were suspicious because they knew that a home on the 100 block of Barrypoint Road was supposed to be vacant, so when they saw people inside they thought burglars, because burglars have been active in the area, and called 911.

But Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said the first officers to respond determined quickly it was a party, and soon learned that it was not even a break-in, because the home had just been rented and one of those cited was the son of the new renter.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio's Bob Roberts reports

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As a result, charges were limited to underage drinking and possession of alcohol.

But what set this part apart for Weitzel from other underage drinking parties is how far the word spread. Weitzel said most underage drinking parties involve teens from one nearby school. But in this case, teens from a dozen suburbs were cited, and Weitzel said carloads of teens continued to drive by as the 28 who had been inside were cited either for underage drinking or possession of alcohol -- and were forced to wait for their parents to pick them up.

He said teenaged boys and girls from Brookfield, Darien, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Hinsdale, LaGrange, Lisle, Melrose Park, Oak Park, River Forest, Riverside and Western Springs were cited, and that, with the assistance of Lyons Police, the home was secured.

Weitzel said police believe that the part had been taking place for about two hours before police arrived.

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