New Canaan Father, Siblings Charged In Underage Drinking Party Incident: Cops

NEW CANAAN, CT — Another injury to a teen at a New Canaan underage drinking party has resulted in the arrest of the father, his son and daughter in connection with hosting the event, New Canaan police announced.

A highly intoxicated 17-year-old girl suffered a minor head injury when she fell at the May 30 party at the home of the Vos family on Ponus Ridge Road, for which she was treated at Norwalk Hospital.

That visit to the Emergency Room is what led New Canaan police to the party, after hospital staff alerted the department that friends of hers had driven her to the ER, not local EMS.

"The ER doctor indicated that her injury seemed consistent with the story he was told on how she fell, and the head injury was not serious," wrote police in a statement. "The friends of the injured female juvenile indicated to New Canaan Police that they were at the Vos residence [on Ponus Ridge Road] attending a high school graduation party and that alcohol was being consumed at the party by juveniles. Officers were subsequently dispatched to the Vos residence to investigate the potential youth party. Upon arriving officers’ determined based on evidence observed including the strong odor of alcohol in the backyard, vomit observed on the patio and lawn, empty beer and liquor bottles that an underage youth party had occurred at the residence."

Following the department's investigation, New Canaan police obtained arrest warrants for Jim Vos, 54; Sophie Vos, 18; and Hayden Vos, 22.

All three turned themselves into police custody this week and were charged with the following:

• Jim Vos, failure to halt possess alcohol by minor
• Sophie Vos, permitting minor to possess alcohol
• Hayden Vos, failure to halt possess alcohol by minor

All three were released after posting $2,500 bonds each, and are scheduled to appear in Norwalk Superior Court on July 10 (Jim); July 11 (Sophie); and July 13 (Hayden).

This case marks the second incident in New Canaan in recent months where a teenager was injured during an underage drinking party. An Oenoke Ridge Road father and son were arrested in connection with that party, and their cases are still pending.

Photo: From left, Jim, Hayden and Sophie Vos. Photo credit: New Canaan Police Department