Guests Flee Fairfield Party Busted By Cops Amid Virus: Police

FAIRFIELD, CT — Just 12 minutes after midnight Friday, Fairfield police got their first call of the new year, a complaint about a large, noisy party being held despite restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Law enforcement received the anonymous call at 12:12 a.m., with the caller reporting the party in the 1000 block of Fairfield Beach Road, police said.

“Officers could hear loud music and yelling coming from the home,” according to information provided by Lt. Antonio Granata. “Upon officers approaching, house guests began running away from the home and onto the beach.”

The host was issued an infraction for creating a public disturbance, according to police.

Due to the pandemic, the capacity for social gatherings at residences in Connecticut is currently 10 people. Face masks and social distancing are required at private parties.

During a coronavirus update at Monday’s Board of Selectmen meeting, Fairfield First Selectwoman Brenda Kupchick and Chief of Police Christopher Lyddy discussed local law enforcement’s approach to policing large parties.

“There are Fourth Amendment issues that come into play,” Lyddy said. “We do opt for encouragement and education before enforcement, but we don’t shy away from enforcement when it’s appropriate.”

Typically, when hosts of large gatherings are issued an infraction, it’s for creating a public disturbance, according to Lyddy, as was the case Friday.

In September, police broke up a sizable high school party, which was held the same weekend as several other teen gatherings. The parties led Fairfield Ludlowe High School to briefly close due to concerns about virus exposure.

As of Monday, Connecticut’s positive test rate for the virus averaged 6.6 percent over seven days. In Fairfield, a total of 3,123 cases had been recorded as of Monday since the pandemic began in March — an increase of 185 cases compared to the numbers one week earlier, according to town data.