WESTFIELD – A city teenager was charged with keeping a noisy and disorderly house, among other charges.
Police were called to 126 Union Street, Building 10, Apartment 8 around 9:15 p.m. on November 28 after a mother reported that her 15-year-old daughter was at the residence drinking.
There had already been nearly half a dozen visits to this apartment dating back to May, 2014, for underage drinking parties hosted by 19-year-old Isaiah Headley.
On November 28, Westfield Police Officer Brendan Irujo received no answer at the apartment, so he identified himself as a police officer and entered through the open door to check on the well-being of the caller’s daughter, according to court records.
Officers found three female teens who “showed obvious signs of being under the influence of alcoholic beverages,” Irujo wrote in his report.
“One underage female (15 year old) was so intoxicated that she had vomited on herself and was found hiding in a closet,” Irujo wrote. “She had to be transported to the hospital for treatment.”
Two of the teens identified Headley as the one hosting the party and providing the alcohol. The defendant had fled before police had arrived on scene.
While the officers were there, neighbors approached them to express concern and agitation about the ongoing noise and disturbances coming from Headley’s apartment, according to court records.
Police had responded to calls on May 25, 2014, January 1, July 5, October 21 and November 15, 2015 when Headley was issued a city ordinance violation for a nuisance house and “advised that any future parties would result in criminal charges.”
Headley was released on his personal recognizance after being arraigned in Westfield District Court Tuesday on charges of person under 21 possessing liquor, keeping a noisy and disorderly house, person under 21 procuring liquor and disturbing the peace.
A “noisy and disorderly house” falls under a rather archaic-sounding Massachusetts law, Chapter 272, Section 53, entitled “Certain offenses,” which includes “Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy another person, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure,” according to malegislature.gov
The offense is “punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $200, or by both such fine and imprisonment,” according to malegislature.gov
Headley is due back in court on June 2.
Staff Writer Christine Charnosky can be reached at [email protected]
Follow me on Twitter @charnoskyWNG
