A stop sign inscribed with numerous names and graffiti is stored at police headquarters with dozens of street signs, three other traffic signs and two kegs which were seized at a party hosted by a 19-year-old Cardinal Lane resident Friday evening. (Photo by Carl E. Hartdegen)
WESTFIELD – A city teen and his mother are both facing charges after police responding to a complaint of a loud party Friday night found, in addition to a host of under-age drinkers, a hoard of municipal street and traffic signs.
Police report that a caller at 11:20 p.m. complained of about 40 cars parked on Cardinal Lane for a party in the area. The caller said that vehicles were being operated irresponsibly and young persons were walking in the yards of residents of the street.
Officers Scott Phelon, Michael Csekovsky and Thomas Cusak were dispatched together with auxiliary officers Jason Grunwald and Jonathan Jedlicka.
Phelon reports that the officers observed many young persons in the area and determined that one of the houses was the focal point of their activity.
Phelon reports that he passed a couple lying in the driveway kissing as he approached a back yard where numerous youths were seen and reports that three youths seen holding cups and bottles fled into a basement hatchway when they saw the officers.
Phelon found when he followed the youths that there were about a hundred youths in the three rooms of the basement which was littered with more than 100 beer bottles and plastic cups.
In addition a partially full beer keg was found together with an empty keg and several partially full and empty liquor bottles.
Phelon reports that when officers asked the crowd if anybody was 21 years old there was no response and an unidentified person said that some of the youths were in college but most were still in high school. The officers estimated that the vast majority of the partygoers ranged in age from 17-20 years-of-age.
The officer also noticed numerous street and traffic signs in the basement.
Phelon noted that traffic bureau officers had circulated an e-mail in past months concerning the unusually high rate of theft of street signs in the area.
James Mulvenna, the director of public works, said Monday that the theft of street signs has been an issue citywide for several years. He said that the street signs typically cost about $18 each while traffic signs cost $30 to $35 each.
An inventory subsequently found that there were 24 street signs and four traffic signs in the basement.
A stop sign found had been inscribed with dozens of names and other graffiti.
The host of the party was identified and said that he and his friends had stolen the signs.
He also pointed out, as he escorted officers upstairs to speak with his mother, that it was his party and his mother had not been involved.
Phelon spoke with the youth’s mother who said that she had thought that her son had staged a beach theme party.
She said that she had learned about the kegs of beer about an hour earlier and said that she had planned to have all the guests spend the night at her home.
Police noted that she had apparently made no effort to collect car keys or otherwise prevent youths from leaving the party and that police were notified because of the noise made by the squealing tires of youths leaving the party.
The woman also said that she was aware of the street signs in the basement.
Phelon reports that criminal complaints for procuring liquor for minors and for receiving stolen property valued more than $250 were filed against both the resident and her son. In addition, the youth was charged with being a person younger than the legal drinking age in possession of liquor.
The gathering was dispersed.
