Home alone: Teens' parties lead to arrests

Thirty-five teenagers were arrested for underage drinking at two parties in Ocean Township over the weekend.

The first party was on Tudor Drive in the Wayside section last Friday night, and the second party was last Saturday night in a home on Stonehenge Drive.

According to the Ocean Township police, they responded to a report of a loud party with music at 10:13 p.m. on Tudor Drive. Upon arriving at the house, police said they found a teenager in front of the house who smelled of alcohol. As they began an investigation, numerous teenagers ran out of the rear of the house, police reported. The officers determined that no adults were home. They also reported finding a quantity of beer and liquor in the house.

Eleven juveniles were taken into custody and a relative of the homeowner was contacted. Two additional juveniles were located hiding in a locked portion of the house.

All 13 juveniles were from Ocean Township and were released into the custody of parents and guardians.

The second party was reported at 8:35 p.m. the following night. According to the report, police went to the Stonehenge Drive home in an attempt to locate a runaway juvenile. According to police, a teenager who lives at the house answered the door and it was discovered that no adults were home. As the officer was speaking to the teenage resident, two teens were observed inside the house with alcoholic beverages.

Further investigation revealed 19 other teenagers in the basement with additional alcoholic beverages. All 22 juveniles were taken into custody. They were from Ocean, Howell, Jackson, Spring Lake, Manasquan, Sea Girt, Middletown, Freehold and Wall. All were released to the custody of parents or guardians.

Police said both cases are being forwarded to the Family Division of the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office for review.