BY MATT HERSH
Salem police officers made 25 arrests on Friday, May 18, after discovering a large underage drinking party.
A total of 25 people were arrested when a police officer who was patrolling an area of North Salem noticed a large gathering of cars on Mary’s Lane.
One teen was charged with unlawful possession and disorderly conduct while the others were charged with unlawful possession and intoxication.
Deputy Police Chief William Ganley said the officer reported that the cars were lining both sides of the narrow street, making it impossible for an emergency vehicle to travel down it if necessary. This posed a safety threat to the entire neighborhood, he said.
Ganley said the officer started knocking on doors to see where the gathering was taking place. A resident said it was happening at 8 Mary’s Lane and the officer went to investigate.
“When the officer walked around back of the house, there were a bunch of kids who ran inside, locked the door and shut off all of the lights,” Ganley said. “This would lead a person to believe that something wasn’t right.”
The officer knocked on the door until a girl came out and explained that the home belonged to her grandmother. She had permission to be there, she told police.
After contacting the grandmother and gaining permission to enter the home, police found open alcohol containers, Ganley said.
“The girl had permission to be there but not with that many people and obviously not with alcohol,” he said.
While almost all of the people present cooperated with police, Peter Richard, 19, of Billerica, Mass., had to be subdued with pepper spray. He was later charged with disorderly conduct.
The following were charged with possession and intoxication:
Alexis Boucher, 19, Salem; Daniel Trahan, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Kristen Bailey, 19, Billerica, Mass.; Adam Fitzpatrick, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Jedrek Miskevitch, 20, Billerica, Mass.; Daniel Reale, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Vanessa Sousa, 18, Billerica, Mass.; Kevin Mazure, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Jason Walkley, 20, Billerica, Mass.; Ashley Spinale, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Pamela Strelis, 20, Arlington, Mass.; Michael Nichols, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Lisa Merlino, 20, Woburn, Mass.; Nicholas Marmanidis, 19, Burlington, Mass.; Michael Sutherby, 18, Everett, Mass.; Adam Mariniccio, 20, Burlington, Mass.; Sean Litchfield, 19, Lowell, Mass.; Thomas Boucher, 19, Burlington, Mass.
Each is scheduled for a court appearance on June 18, Ganley said.