Prom patrol busts underage-drinking party
JANESVILLE — The Rock County Sheriff’s Department’s prom patrols have busted at least one underage-drinking party.
A deputy on prom patrol got wind of a party at a rural residence in the early morning hours of Sunday, April 27, according to a report released Tuesday.
The party apparently was associated with the Parkview High School prom, said the department’s Cmdr. Troy Knudson.
Seventeen people, ages 17-19, were arrested after registering positive on a breath analyzer.
Nine others at the house at 11346 S. Merlet Road, Beloit, had not been drinking, the deputies determined.
The sheriff’s department announced two weeks ago that it would use grant money to put extra deputies on the road to be on the lookout for underage drinking connected to high school proms.
At the Merlet Road party, those arrested registered blood-alcohol levels of 0.01 percent to 0.09 percent.
Knudson said it appears the homeowner cooperated with the investigation, giving deputies access to the partygoers.
“All of the subjects were lectured and released to a sober, responsible party,” the report states.
A copy of the incident report was sent to Parkview High School.
Arrested later on a charge of procuring alcohol for minors was Zachary R. Knutson, 23, of 1823 N. Pontiac Drive, Janesville. Knutson is a son of the homeowner, according to the report.
More prom patrols are planned on upcoming weekends. At least two extra deputies are assigned to the area of each school having a prom.
Knudson said he had heard very little about prom-related incidents, and he hopes that’s because word has gotten out that the department has targeted prom-related behaviors.
“Hopefully, parents and kids are getting the message,” Knudson said.
May 9, 2008 at 9:51 a.m.
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yeah...I also want to point out that we NOTICED that they are showing more responsibility.
If we show a little love for that, then maybe they will not believe "it doesn't matter anyway, no one notices that some of us had one beer as opposed to getting blasted."
I think it matters.
Zero tolerance is ideal, but let's not forget that, at the very least, they were staying in with friends and not out driving around.
May 9, 2008 at 7:27 a.m.
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Perhaps they are more responsible, but I’m not convinced. My son graduated from one of the local high schools 2 years ago. He spends most of his days either working or with his girlfriend. When I asked him why he has so little contact with any of his old high school friends, he told me that all they seem to want to do is drink and party and he is just not comfortable with that. This has been the same since they graduated high school and they are just now turning of legal age! Sure, it may just be his choice of friends, but the point is, there seems to still be so much emphasis on drinking by underage kids both now and back when I was in high school. I can only hope that things are getting better and parents are becoming more responsible, but it still amazes me how easy alcohol is for these kids to obtain.
May 8, 2008 at 8:47 p.m.
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I agree, thekai and gabby06. I hope these are the trendsetters, so to speak...of being responsible...except for the 23 year old brother, of course
May 8, 2008 at 8:40 p.m.
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I totally agree with thekai. Granted the kids should not have been drinking, but from the sounds of it they were trying to be a little responsible about it. I'm glad that people are trying to do something to help kids not drink and drive.
May 8, 2008 at 8:19 p.m.
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In all honesty, aside from at least one who registered a .09, I would say those kids were being fairly responsible. Nine sober teens leads me to believe that they were going to be the designated drivers. I'm not condoning binge drinking, drunk driving, or sexual assault; all activities related to the prom. The kids broke the law and were caught doing it, so they deserve whatever punishment they are going to receive. It does seem to me, though, that these kids were at least making an attempt to be responsible. That makes me happy. Not because they are kids drinking under age, but because the trends of these kids will hopefully be observed in years to follow. They are part of the future generations, after all.
May 8, 2008 at 2:25 p.m.
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on a more serious note: I'm glad that the LE is taking this issue seriously. Not only does Prom "history" encourage underage drinking, but also activities/effects that often are reported in conjunction with binge drinking, such as sexual assault, drunk driving and alcohol poisoning.
Parents, I IMPLORE you to NOT provide your "responsible" teen with alcohol and to go the extra mile to ensure you know what your kid is up to, especially with prom and the start of summer quickly approaching....
My adult children are driving on the roads, too, and I want to know they made it home without being hit by a drunk driver, too. Thanks. :)
May 8, 2008 at 2:19 p.m.
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It's got Eric Estrada written ALL OVER it. :)
May 8, 2008 at 8:53 a.m.
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Next week, on Prom Patrol...
Hah what a great television show that would be.
May 8, 2008 at 8:08 a.m.
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i love it when my own class mates get busted
good job guys
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