Spring Break
Police bust house party: Part II
More than 100 citations issued at two parties
DJ Slater
Issue date: 9/19/05 Section: Campus News
No one suspected anything when UW-Eau Claire students were buying beer cups at 833 Chippewa St. or 604 Niagara St. Saturday night. Nothing seemed suspicious; everyone paid $5 for his or her cup and wandered through the party.
That is, until the undercover officers at both parties called in for help, and reinforcements surrounded the house, issuing each underage person a drinking citation.
"We have people that are of that age that we can utilize in the community," Deputy Chief of Police Brad Venaas said. "We've done it in the past."
According to police reports, the Eau Claire Police Department issued 80 citations and one criminal arrest for resisting an officer at 833 Chippewa St., and cited 31 people at 604 Niagara St.
The citations for underage drinking run $248 for first offense, $373 second offense, $498 third offense and $748 fourth offense. Venaas said the citations at 833 Chippewa St. totaled $19,600, while the total for 604 Niagara ran close to $10,000. Altogether, the Eau Claire Police Department issued 111 citations totaling nearly $29,600.
"If that's a deterrent to some of their alcohol behavior, then this certainly is a message for them," he said. "If that's what will help them turn the corner ... great."
Venaas said the police busted nine house parties over the weekend, but the two mentioned were the largest and received the most in fines.
The renters of both houses received two citations each, one for selling alcohol without a license and the other for providing minors with alcohol, according to the reports.
When junior and 833 Chippewa St. resident Keith Erickson realized the police had surrounded his house, he said he couldn't believe what was happening.
"Most people were just in shock," Erickson said. "I was, of course, pissed because I knew I was going to get a huge fine."
Junior Tony Hyland, another 833 Chippewa St. resident, said he noticed the undercover officer only when he revealed his badge. Otherwise, he said, the officer blended in with the rest of the students, wearing average college clothes and a backwards baseball cap.
That is, until the undercover officers at both parties called in for help, and reinforcements surrounded the house, issuing each underage person a drinking citation.
"We have people that are of that age that we can utilize in the community," Deputy Chief of Police Brad Venaas said. "We've done it in the past."
According to police reports, the Eau Claire Police Department issued 80 citations and one criminal arrest for resisting an officer at 833 Chippewa St., and cited 31 people at 604 Niagara St.
The citations for underage drinking run $248 for first offense, $373 second offense, $498 third offense and $748 fourth offense. Venaas said the citations at 833 Chippewa St. totaled $19,600, while the total for 604 Niagara ran close to $10,000. Altogether, the Eau Claire Police Department issued 111 citations totaling nearly $29,600.
"If that's a deterrent to some of their alcohol behavior, then this certainly is a message for them," he said. "If that's what will help them turn the corner ... great."
Venaas said the police busted nine house parties over the weekend, but the two mentioned were the largest and received the most in fines.
The renters of both houses received two citations each, one for selling alcohol without a license and the other for providing minors with alcohol, according to the reports.
When junior and 833 Chippewa St. resident Keith Erickson realized the police had surrounded his house, he said he couldn't believe what was happening.
"Most people were just in shock," Erickson said. "I was, of course, pissed because I knew I was going to get a huge fine."
Junior Tony Hyland, another 833 Chippewa St. resident, said he noticed the undercover officer only when he revealed his badge. Otherwise, he said, the officer blended in with the rest of the students, wearing average college clothes and a backwards baseball cap.