Continuing in its string of recent party busts, the Milwaukee Police Department ticketed one 23-year-old male Marquette graduate for serving alcohol to minors without a tavern license late Friday night.
The party host, a December College of Business Administration alumnus, was cited for 52 counts of permitting the consumption of alcohol by a minor and failing to have a class B tavern license, said Capt. Russ Shaw, assistant director of Public Safety.
According to the host, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the fines total $13,177.64.
Citations for the possession and consumption of alcohol by underage persons were issued to 52 other party attendants, including the host's roommate, a 20-year-old College of Health Sciences junior.
The party took place on the third floor of the Kensington Apartments, 915 N. 15th St., around midnight. Two undercover officers at the party notified MPD, the host said.
He said approximately 10 other officers arrived soon thereafter, asked those of legal drinking age to leave and began ticketing the remaining party goers.
MPD did not return calls for comment, and did not confirm the use of undercover officers.
MPD then contacted DPS. The names of the 52 students ticketed have not yet been released to DPS, Shaw said.
The party host said after the tickets were issued, he was taken into custody until about 4:30 a.m. Saturday. Two kegs of beer and other liquor was served at the party. A friend of the host also acted as the deejay that night, he said.
Shaw said students living off-campus are well informed of what types of activities are illegal and will result in fines or citations from MPD, due to the work of the crime prevention unit of DPS. Flyers are distributed in off-campus areas and students are also made aware of what is permissible and what is illegal.
The host and his roommate will appear in court May 5 to enter their plea. The host said he is considering hiring an attorney or using a public defender to try to get the charges dropped.
This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Mar. 15 2005.