Adults face charges after party

Staff report

Canfield

City police charged 10 adults with underage consumption after someone called 911 to break up a party that was getting out of hand.

Canfield police arrived at 55 Village Blvd. about 11:30 p.m. Feb. 13 to investigate reports of a loud party involving underage drinking.

Six adults were given breath tests after admitting to drinking alcohol: Phillip Martauz, 19; Anna Serraglio, 18; Andrew Franklin, 18; Kenneth Burton, 18; Eric Sargent, 18; and Jonathan Como, 18.

Stephen Hunt, 20; Frank Kolesar, 20; Logan Acri, 18; and Justin Hille, 19; refused a breath test but were observed to be under the influence.

The adults were charged Monday with underage consumption. Additionally, Hunt, who threw the party, was charged with nine counts of offenses involving underage persons.

Police also spoke with five juveniles, all of whom submitted to breath tests — two of them registered a 0.00 blood-alcohol content, the report said. They were released to their parents who would be contacted regarding charges.

Several cars were parked in the driveway and in the street in front of the house, and a 17-year-old female was standing in the driveway. The girl went into the house to inform the home-owner, Hunt, that the police wanted to speak with him.

Hunt told police he was having a party, but no one underage was drinking, according to a police report. The officers said Hunt smelled of alcohol, had glassy, bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. He eventually admitted having “a little bit” to drink.

Officers reported hearing yelling and loud commotion coming from inside the house and the garage. Several young men were seen through a window attempting to hide inside the garage.

One of the men was seen trying to roll himself up in a piece of carpeting on the floor, police said.

When officers asked Hunt why people inside the house were yelling and trying to hide, Hunt asked, ‘Can’t we just make this go away? ... If I promise everyone will stay here tonight, will you go away?’” according to the report.

Though Hunt initially denied police access to the home, officers explained Juvenile Rule 6, which allows them entry without a warrant if they fear for the well-being of those inside, the report said.

Police entered the basement of the home first, and removed two males — one was hiding in a corner with a sweat shirt over his head, and the other was sitting naked in a bathtub.

More people were found in the kitchen and living room, as well as in closets and under beds.

Opened containers of beer, bottles of wine and liquor sat in plain view in the kitchen, according to the report.

Eight of the adults charged are scheduled for arraignment Wednesday in Mahoning County Area Court in Canfield. Attorneys for the other two already have entered written pleas of not guilty, according to court records.