Story posted Wednesday, May 27, 2009
43 Charged In Party Bust
Forty-three 17, 18 and 19-year-olds---most of whom are Park Ridge residents---are facing charges of alcohol consumption by a minor following the discovery of a huge drinking party inside a Des Plaines home in foreclosure.
One individual, 19, is facing more serious charges having allegedly hosted the party and helping provide alcohol.
According to Des Plaines police, on Sunday, May 24 at 2 a.m., a patrolman observed four individuals walking eastbound on Van Buren Street near Lee Street talking loudly. It appeared that the four were juveniles. Seeing this, the officer followed the individuals to a house at 1160 Van Buren where the four entered through an east side basement level door. The officer said he could hear what appeared to be a large party inside. At this time, several more officers were called to the scene with one in plainclothes gaining access to the house.
Once inside, police discovered more than 40 people, the majority of which had been drinking and appeared to be underage, reports said.
"Beer cans, bottles of hard alcohol, and plastic cups littered the basement and the premises smelled strongly of alcoholic beverages and trash," said a police report. Two nearly empty half-barrel kegs of beer were found in the basement. A search by police found many of the youths hiding throughout the house, a number of whom had concealed themselves amongst piles of trash, which filled the south side of the basement.
The youths were placed in an assembly line where they were identified and issued city tickets. Most of the youths left via taxicabs, but a number were picked up by their parents.
Anthony Araque, 19, of 2359 Oaktree Lne., Park Ridge, was transported to the police station. Araque allegedly hosted the party and police believe Andrew Kusznir, 19, 1032 S. Delphia, Park Ridge, allegedly played a role in purchasing the liquor.
Police said the residence, which had electrical power but no running water, had been vandalized over time. Besides piles of trash inside, in the rear yard, an "impromptu garbage dump with piles of trash in excess of four feet" had been created.
According to police, Araque said he had been hosting parties at the house for a couple of weeks and on that day he was celebrating his birthday. He explained that he had been asked by an individual at a fitness center to watch his house at 1160 Van Buren while he was traveling to Poland. The man, said Araque, had not been seen since then. Araque said he was asked to pick up the homeowner's mail and on one occasion after he had done so discovered that the house he was watching had gone into foreclosure.
Araque told police that he and Kusznir purchased the liquor at Packy's Liquor on Oakton Street by using Kusznir's fake identification card. Araque also told police that he had been using a fake ID for about a year, but that his mother caught him and took it away. Araque also stated that during the most recent party he was charging people $5 for a plastic cup and the beer.
Araque was charged with city ordinance Unlawful Delivery of Alcohol by a Minor; Unlawful Assembly of Minors; Consumption of Alcohol by a Minor. Police are reviewing whether an additional charge will be field against Kusznir. He was one of the 43 individuals charged with Minor Consumption of Alcohol. All of those charged are scheduled to appear in court on July 13. Araque is facing the possibility of a large fine.
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