VPD busts house party Saturday, issues 49 underage alcohol citations

A Vermillion house party Saturday ended with 49 citations issued for underage drinking.

The Vermillion Police Department responded to a noise complaint at 1006 Rice Dr. Saturday at 10:55 p.m., said VPD Chief Matt Betzen.

As many as 100 people were reported to be at the house when police arrived. While Betzen said the renter of the house and most people inside cooperated, at least one male was pepper sprayed for resisting.

Officers also issued a citation for failure to obey a police officer and a citation for noise prohibition.

A charge of a minor possession/consumption of alcohol is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, which goes on an individual’s permanent criminal record. It also comes with a citation fine of $114.

Betzen said VPD does not always have all the people on staff for this size of house party, but because of an overlap shift — where more officers are on duty when parties are at their prime — seven officers responded to Saturday’s incident.

“We’re able to take a more assertive role in these kinds of situations, which can be dangerous and and easily get out of hand,” Betzen said.

*Correction: The address of the incident was misreported in the original article posted.