By ALIN HETT
Hays Post
A Halloween house party in Hays was shut down Saturday after police received a citizen report around 8 p.m.
Tim Greenwood, Hays Police deputy chief, said officers estimated about 50 people younger than 21 were at the party in the 4100 block of Fillmore Drive. Greenwood also said officers observed several alcoholic beverages and issued 21 citations for minor in possession or consumption of alcohol.
Candice Weedman Norris, 55, was arrested on requested misdemeanor charges of allegedly unlawfully hosting minors and interference with law enforcement.
Christopher Norris was also cited for allegedly unlawfully hosting minors and furnishing alcohol to minors.
Greenwood said providing alcohol to people younger than 21 can bring criminal penalties. It also can result in civil liability to the person giving the alcohol if someone leaves the party and is harmed.
“We know that at that age, they’re already not making good decisions on a lot of things,” Greenwood said. “Then you add alcohol to the mix, and as adults, we know that that’s not a good combination.”
Greenwood also said it is atypical for the Hays Police Department to issue so many citations at one gathering.