A homeowner received a summons for contributing to the delinquency of a minor on May 30 after Summit County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a party at her house, according to Sgt. Mike Schilling of the Sheriff’s Office.
Schilling said about 100 high school-aged people and several adults were present, with many consuming alcohol. He said such parties are more common during summer and that the office responds when notified, prioritizing public safety. Deputies arrived around 9 p.m. following a report of a fight in Blue River, where two parents argued verbally after one younger attendee who was supposed to be a designated driver drank alcohol. The dispute did not become physical and no charges were pressed, so deputies focused on illegally parked cars outside the home.
Approximately 50 vehicles were parked on both sides of a county road, which Schilling said is illegal and could hinder emergency vehicle access. “When you see 100 people at a party that’s both inside and outside, and all sorts of stuff going on, it kind of drives home the point of, like, ‘Hey, it is important that we can get emergency access up here if we needed it,’” Schilling said. Deputies called tow trucks but only three to five cars were removed due to limited availability.
The female homeowner told deputies she hosted the party for her child’s high school graduation and had set up a breathalyzer station for attendees. “I don’t know how you ensure that with 100 people,” Schilling said. The woman was issued a summons; Schilling said nearly every attendee could have been cited for underage drinking or contributing, but staffing limitations prevented this approach: “We can’t spend all night on a Saturday night writing…100 summonses,” he said.
Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons stated that while the office aims to support graduates and their families, responsibility lies with students: “Some decisions carry consequences that can last a lifetime,” FitzSimons’ statement read. “Choose wisely, take care of one another, and celebrate safely.”
Schilling noted annual senior parties often occur in forested areas near Rock Creek; this year there are tips about an individual planning to bring a gun to such an event—a matter under active investigation by detectives who treat firearm-related tips seriously. Last year saw serious injuries from an accident when attendees crossed into Grand County; other years included incidents involving pellet guns or altercations with law enforcement officers from U.S. Forest Service or Grand County as parties migrated across jurisdictions.
