55 NJ High Schoolers Busted At Booze-Filled Vermont House Party

Fifty-five high school students were busted at a booze-filled party at a house party in Vermont over the weekend, according to police. The party was apparently considered a "rite of passage."

The Vermont State Police did not reveal where the high school students came from, although News12 reported they were primarily from Rumson.

Police did say they were all at the same party, at the same house, in Jamaica, Vt. late Saturday and early Sunday. News12 reported that the party "is apparently an annual tradition" for seniors, and that Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School was closed Monday and Tuesday for a scheduled break.

There were no adults at the party, although the parents had rented the home as an apparent "rite of passage" for most of the teens, police said. Only one student was on winter break.

The arrests happened Sunday at 12:35 a.m., when Vermont State Police discovered the drunken high schoolers at the residence on West Hill Road in Jamaica, police said. They were responding to a separate vandalism case.

Troopers encountered the 55 underage high school seniors from New Jersey who were in possession of "vast quantity of alcohol" and some marijuana.

All 55 people in the house were cited for being minors in possession of alcohol. Troopers were able to collect all othe alcohol and contraband from the residence.

They also supervised the juveniles as they destroyed it in their presence.

"Sober parents" were called to the scene to take custody of the juveniles.

Anyone with information as to how the underage juveniles procured the large amount of alcohol is urged to contact Trooper. Jason Lengfellner at the Westminster State Police Barracks 802-722-4600.

Patch photo