LONOKE COUNTY – Lonoke County Deputies are cracking down on underage drinking.
A party busted Thursday night hosted by a grandmother for her grandson and his friends ended with 40 teens receiving citations. 68-year-old Martha Dubois was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of minors and violation of the host law. Deputies say she became belligerent and attempted to pour out the alcohol.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley says this isn’t the first underage drinking party at this property. He says there’s also been a rash of burglaries on the same street. Sheriff Staley says these crimes won’t be tolerated and those who provide alcohol to minors will be held responsible.
John Charles lives on Rye Drive in Lonoke County just outside Cabot and says he and his neighbors are more skeptical of strangers now prowling their street after recent trouble with teens in the area. “That’s our concern. The neighborhood is on alert as far as watching vehicles driving up and down the street.”
Sheriff Staley says neighbors complained to deputies about a large party on the block Thursday night. Deputies cited 40 teens between the ages of 14 and 19. Dubois told deputies she wasn’t aware the kids were drinking alcohol.
“How do you not know? There’s 40 kids outside your house and it’s dark outside, How do you not know that? You know what’s happening.”
Jana Smith lives on Rye Drive and says it’s not just wild underage parties, but numerous burglaries that have her and the neighbors concerned. She says they feel unsafe and unsettled in their typically quiet, rural street.
Sheriff Staley hopes additional deputy presence in the area will help send a message that underage drinking or a string of burglaries will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.
The Sheriff says it’s possibly the same teens at the party Thursday night are connected to the rash of burglaries. He says some arrests have been made, and he expects to make several more in the coming days.
A party busted Thursday night hosted by a grandmother for her grandson and his friends ended with 40 teens receiving citations. 68-year-old Martha Dubois was arrested for contributing to the delinquency of minors and violation of the host law. Deputies say she became belligerent and attempted to pour out the alcohol.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley says this isn’t the first underage drinking party at this property. He says there’s also been a rash of burglaries on the same street. Sheriff Staley says these crimes won’t be tolerated and those who provide alcohol to minors will be held responsible.
John Charles lives on Rye Drive in Lonoke County just outside Cabot and says he and his neighbors are more skeptical of strangers now prowling their street after recent trouble with teens in the area. “That’s our concern. The neighborhood is on alert as far as watching vehicles driving up and down the street.”
Sheriff Staley says neighbors complained to deputies about a large party on the block Thursday night. Deputies cited 40 teens between the ages of 14 and 19. Dubois told deputies she wasn’t aware the kids were drinking alcohol.
“How do you not know? There’s 40 kids outside your house and it’s dark outside, How do you not know that? You know what’s happening.”
Jana Smith lives on Rye Drive and says it’s not just wild underage parties, but numerous burglaries that have her and the neighbors concerned. She says they feel unsafe and unsettled in their typically quiet, rural street.
Sheriff Staley hopes additional deputy presence in the area will help send a message that underage drinking or a string of burglaries will not be tolerated, and those responsible will be held accountable.
The Sheriff says it’s possibly the same teens at the party Thursday night are connected to the rash of burglaries. He says some arrests have been made, and he expects to make several more in the coming days.
