 "Photo: photo courtesy of Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control")
State alcohol and tobacco agents raided a University student party Saturday after learning of it through "Internet sources."
The party, located at Oakbrook Apartments on Nicholson Drive, was raided by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control along with the Baton Rouge Police Department.
The majority of the people at the party were younger than 21.
The party was advertised on Facebook.com as a public event.
"This was not a private event, it was advertised through Internet sources," said Brant Thompson, ATC deputy commissioner.
The Facebook event page advertised a $5 cover charge to "drink all you want all [night]!" The apartment complex gate code was also posted.
The ATC seized 10 beer kegs, a case of Jägermeister and 53 miscellaneous bottles of alcohol. The group also seized 153 orange wristbands and $136 taken as cover charges. The alcohol is currently being held as evidence at ATC headquarters.
The ATC said that the party hosts were charged selling alcohol without a permit, selling alcohol to people under 21, possession of alcohol under 21, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles and misrepresentation of age to obtain alcohol.
"Hey dude, ATC had about 10 undercover cops at my party this weekend. We got fucked. They just started checking facebook, so be conservative with the party description," said Jonathan Dykes, one of the party hosts, via Facebook.
Dykes declined to comment.
The party was scheduled to start at 10:30 p.m. and last until 5:30 a.m.
The ATC said the raid took place at 10:45 p.m. At the time of the bust, Thompson estimates 50 people were inside and nearly 100 people were waiting to enter the apartment. Baton Rouge city police were brought to help with the traffic problem.
"We didn't allow much time for the event to kick off. We didn't want to run the risk of people getting drunk or hurt," Thompson said. "We did not issue citations to all individuals in the apartment, but 13 minors were charged with possession of alcohol."
Thompson confirms the ATC had two undercover agents at the party. He said the undercover agents paid the cover charge, received wristbands and shortly after entering the party uniformed agents came in.
"About 50 people were ID'd at the location and all were underage," Thompson said.
Thompson also said the ATC uses the Internet for information leading to various raids.
University students were split on the issue of authorities using Facebook for information about parties.
"Police really don't know what's going on. I really don't like that, it's demeaning," said Adriann Pedroza, biological sciences senior. "If it's not bothering anybody else, why should they bother?"
Pedroza said that advertising a party on Facebook is not a smart thing to do.
"I wouldn't make my party public. It associates me with people I don't want to come into contact with," she said.
Some student feel authorities should be able to use the Internet to locate parties.
"Justice has to be served any way they can do it. Something on Facebook shouldn't have to be hidden," said Daniel Lovell, wildlife ecology sophomore.
Others think that only larger parties should be broken up.
"The police are doing their job. I'm trying to have fun. I'm not doing anything bad. Small parties shouldn't be broken up," said Jeffrey Robinson, computer engineering sophomore.
When asked if he would promote his party on Facebook, John Spear, kinesiology senior said, "I don't know if I would now that police are looking. It's messed up. It's invading our privacy."
Thompson insists he has the students' best interests in mind.
"We do not go around kicking down doors," Thompson said. "Our goal is to prevent the unintended consequences when this number of young people become intoxicated."
--- Contact Mitchell Dickson at mdickson@lsureveille.com
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