File:66 nabbed at party (12179157173).jpg

I was at the first party. We went back the second night but turned away when we saw flashing police lights.

Jan. 27, 1985

66 nabbed at party

By JEFF OWEN

Daily Journal Staff Writer

State Police were deciding today whether to formally file charges against 66 people arrested during a raid of a Greenwood party Saturday night.

State Police Capt. Larry Carmichael, Greenwood, said 25 of the party-goers arrested were juveniles and 44 were between the ages of 18 and 24.

Police said the juveniles, as young as 14 years old, attended Greenwood and Center Grove schools.

Some of the arrests involved Greenwood High School athletes, including some boys basketball players, school officials said today.

Police officers raided the party at 947 Briar Patch Lane about 11:15 p.m. Saturday. The home's owner, Robert J. Dhondt, was vacationing in Florida and not home during the party. Dhondt is a member of the Greenwood Board of Works.

Police arrested a 20-year-old youth left to care for the home, but would not disclose his name pending filing of formal charges.

The homeowner will not be charged, police said.

"This was a case where the guy wanted to have a few friends over and the party got out of hand. We wanted to stop it before anything else happened," Carmichael said. State Police received an anonymous tip about the party and Carmichael went to the home.

"After noticing the ages of the people at the home and determining that alcohol was in the premises, we decided to conduct the raid," Carmichael explained.

Greenwood police sent seven officers and the Johnson County Sheriff's Department assigned four deputies to assist Carmichael and an excise officer at the scene.

Carmichael said alcohol and a "certain quantity" of marijuana was found in the home. A Greenwood school bus was brought to the party to transport the youths to Greenwood City Hall.

Police used City Council chambers until 3 a.m. Sunday to process the arrests. Dispatchers called the juveniles' parents.

"We appreciated the help from the school district. Our department had no way of transporting that many (people) in one arrest," said Greenwood Police Chief Charles Henderson.

Carmichael said the youths were cooperative during the arrests. The scene inside City Council chambers also was relatively peaceful as parents arrived to pick up their children.

Police conducted alcohol breathalyzer tests on youths believed to be drinking. All the juveniles were released to their parents or guardians.

"The parents were surprised their kids were there. Most thought their kids were at a movie or at a friend's house," Carmichael said.

Police did not take any of the partygoers to jail. Carmichael said reports on each arrest will be reviewed to determine if formal charges should be filed.

The youths were cited for visiting a common nuisance and illegal consumption of alcohol. Carmichael doubted if anyone would be charged with possession of controlled substances.

"In light of all the (traffic) accidents involving drunken driving lately, we just couldn't overlook this situation," Carmichael said.

Henderson said his department has not had much problem with large parties 'getting out of hand." He called Saturday's situation "unique".

Although the party occurred in Greenwood's city limits, Carmichael said State Police became involved when he received an anonymous tip at home.

"I had been informed there had been a similar party there the night before," he said. Henderson said his department had not received any complaints from neighbors about loud parties at that home.