In the wake of a July 4 disturbance involving “hundreds of youth” and alleged underage drinking on Crowninshield Island (formerly Brown’s Island), some juveniles have been identified and are facing court action, Marblehead Police Chief Dennis King said Monday.
“Based on the facts of this incident, the violations were MGL (Massachusetts General Law) violations, minors in possession of alcohol and disturbance activity,” King told the Current in an email.
“We were able to seize a considerable amount of alcohol, disperse the crowd safely and identify a few juveniles that will be facing court action for underage drinking,” King added.
‘Spring-break-style beach party’
According to the police report of the incident, officers observed “significant amounts of underage and open consumption of alcohol, in addition to trespassing on private property, as hundreds of youth made their way to and from Brown’s Island,” where the Trustees of Reservations prohibits alcohol consumption.
“What we observed was a massive, spring-break-style beach party with significant drinking, people urinating alongside the tree line at the edge of the beach and generally unruly behavior,” the report reads. On the private beach by Harding Lane, an officer observed multiple instances of young children playing on the beach or in the water who had to run away from groups of rowdy and unruly teenagers. One officer stopped or intercepted multiple individuals, all of whom were in possession of alcohol or had trespassed onto private property, according to the report. With the assistance of other officers, the officer stopped and identified three young men who had backpacks full of booze, from whom they confiscated significant amounts of alcohol.
Repeal social host bylaw?
The development comes as the Board of Health is scheduled to discuss Tuesday whether to repeal Marblehead’s 1995 social host bylaw, which allows the town to fine (up to $150) adults who knowingly permit underage drinking.
Massachusetts also has a social host law that carries significantly steeper penalties than the local bylaw, including fines of up to $2,000 and the possibility of jail time for adults who knowingly provide alcohol to, or allow drinking by, people under 21.
“I think we should strengthen every justification we can find for reducing substance use in young people,” Board of Health Chair Dr. Tom Massaro told the Current. “And clearly, if the Commonwealth version is stronger, clearer and more defensible, then that becomes the standard for the town.”
The Current asked King and Essex County District Attorney Paul Tucker’s office whether they support repealing Marblehead’s bylaw, without an immediate response.
This is a developing story.
