A homeowner in Huntersville, North Carolina, is facing charges after police responded to a late-night party on Devonshire Drive and found more than 100 teenagers drinking inside. Carla Rochelle Reaves, 54, was arrested at the scene. Officers went on to issue roughly 40 more citations for underage drinking.
According to WSOC-TV, the call came in around 12:30 a.m. The crowd was large enough that the first officers on the scene called for backup from North Carolina Alcohol Beverage Control agents. By the time the scene was cleared, multiple agencies had been involved.
The first officer through the door reported an overpowering smell of alcohol on the first floor, according to court documents. Reaves told officers she had been drinking. The court records do not show her disputing any part of the officers’ account.
Reaves spent only a few hours in jail after the arrest. She was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor along with alcohol-related offenses, according to WSOC-TV. A hearing in the case is set for August.
What the Neighbors Have Been Saying
Neighbors reported to WSOC-TV that the home at Devonshire Drive has held massive parties in the past, so they weren’t shocked it would happen again. One individual, who wished to remain anonymous, explained that he wakes up the morning after these gatherings to find litter and bottles of booze scattered across his property that he has to clean up. It’s been a big problem in the area for a while, and residents have become increasingly frustrated.
However, the neighbor said the bigger problem was that an adult had let so many teenagers drink. Others on the street said the parties had been a regular thing, and that someone could easily have gotten hurt. Several said they hoped the arrest would finally put a stop to them.
Not the Only Recent Case
The police say it’s Reaves’ first time being taken into custody for an offense. There is also another recent incident nearby involving underage drinking. A man from Mooresville was charged for his involvement in a teen party he hosted that was very similar to this one.
The reason why so many teens were able to attend one home remains unknown. It is still unknown whether Reaves received assistance or hosted the gathering on her own. Those details likely won’t be made public until her August court date.