Verona Teen’s Booze-Fueled House Party Erupts In Fights: PD

VERONA, NJ — A Verona teen only planned on having a “small party.” But after word got out on social media, it allegedly turned into a massive, alcohol-fueled bash with several fights and underage drinking, police said.

The house party took place on the evening of Oct. 26 on Cypress Avenue and was already out of hand by 9 p.m., when Verona police officers showed up on a report of a large fight in progress, authorities said.

When officers arrived, about 150 partygoers – most of whom appeared to be teens – took off running. Police soon found three assault victims, including two juveniles, one of whom briefly lost consciousness, and a male adult.

After providing first aid to the injured, police investigated at the scene, learning that the resident of the home was hosting a party that included underage drinking. The rowdy scene soon escalated into violence; one teen allegedly smashed a bottle over another partygoer’s head, police said.

“At some point, several fights had broken out and numerous people were actively fighting,” the Verona Police Department stated in a release.

Police said that two partygoers were transported to local hospitals by the Verona Rescue Squad for “head and facial injuries.”

The juvenile who allegedly organized the gathering told officers that she only intended on having a small party, but it got out of control, mostly due to social media, police said.

Authorities charged three adults and a juvenile with "providing a premise where alcoholic beverages would be consumed by under aged persons" and "knowingly maintaining a premises where people would gather to engage in unlawful conduct." Both charges are disorderly persons offenses; each carry a maximum penalty of up to six months in jail and $1,000 fine, police said.

Another teen was charged with one count of aggravated assault and one count of simple assault for allegedly breaking a bottle over the head of another attendee, police said.

A police investigation is ongoing and more assault charges may be forthcoming, the Verona Police Department stated on Nov. 7.

• See related article: Livingston Students' Boozy Tradition Spurs High School To Action

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