Darien Mom Cited For Underage Drinking Party At Her Home: Cops

DARIEN, CT — An anonymous tip led Darien police to a Mansfield Avenue home on June 27 where an 18th birthday party was taking place, and scores of underage revelers were playing "beer pong" and drinking heavily, according to officials.

The incident, the latest in a growing trend of underage drinking parties in Darien and nearby communities, resulted in Darien police issuing a misdemeanor summons to the 50-year-old mother, Debra McLaren. She was at the home during the event but allegedly told police that she was initially unaware that drinking was going on.

Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of Mansfield Avenue at about 10:30 p.m. after receiving the tip that an underage drinking party was occurring. As they approached the home, they could hear loud music.

"In addition, several taxi services were pulling in front of the residence," wrote police in a statement. "As Officers pulled into the driveway, five youths were observed running away. Two additional youths, a male and a female, attempted to walk away down Mansfield Avenue. An Officer instructed them to return to the residence. The Officer noted that both were clearly intoxicated, the male tripped and almost fell and the female had no shoes on. As the two spoke with the Officers, their speech was slurred and their eyes were glassy and bloodshot. They were instructed to have a parent come to the scene. When asked, they both initially indicated they didn’t know whose house they had been at, but eventually identified the house as the McLaren residence.

"An Officer made contact with the homeowner, identified as Debra McLaren. She informed Officers that she had thrown an 18th birthday for her daughter which started at 6:00 p.m. She said the gathering began with approximately 20 juveniles, but 'friends of friends' began arriving. McLaren stated she was unaware of any alcohol being consumed until approximately 9:30 p.m. She indicated that at that point, she instructed everyone that the 'party is over.' When questioned by a second officer later during the incident, McLaren indicated that she became aware of the alcohol at 10:30 p.m, at which point she ended the gathering. In both interactions, McLaren indicated she told the youths to take 'Ubers' home. McLaren told Officers that she had been home throughout the gathering, and had gone outside to the party several times throughout the evening. An Officer noted that none of the attendees had driven, and asked McLaren how the alcohol could have been transported to the home. McLaren responded that people had been dropped off, and she didn’t know how the alcohol got to the house. It was the opinion of the Officers that based on the level of intoxication of some of the youth; they had been drinking for an extended period of time. When questioned about this, McLaren told Officers 'I could really use a break.'"

Officers spotted various types of alcoholic beverages on the patio in the rear of the home, adjacent to the pool, and in a nearby garbage bag. Additionally, there was a table set up with red Solo cups on it arranged in a manner "generally associated with a drinking game known as 'beer pong.'"

"Officers asked McLaren if there were any additional party attendees in the residence, to which she responded there were not," wrote police. "Officers conducted a walk-through of the residence to ensure there were not any incapacitated juveniles. Five additional girls were located in bedrooms. When asked why she didn’t tell them about the teens in the home, [McLaren] told Officers that all the kids were running and she wasn’t sure who went where."

Police said McLaren's daughter, for whom the party was taking place, was among the teens who ran from the home when police arrived.

"Based on their investigation, Officers determined that McLaren did know, or should have known, that juveniles were consuming alcohol at her residence."

McLaren was issued a misdemeanor summons on a charge of failure to halt the possession of liquor by a minor. She was released on a promise to appear in Stamford Superior Court on July 10.

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