North Jersey Man Hosts Teen Halloween Drinking Party: Police

CHATHAM, NJ - A 45-year-old Chatham man is facing charges after hosting a Halloween party in defiance of the executive orders on COVID-19 gatherings and underage drinking, according to the Chatham Township Police Department.

Chatham Township officers were dispatched to the 600 block of Fairmount Avenue for a complaint of a large party where underage drinking was taking place, police said. Officers arrived and saw approximately 40 underage attendees drinking alcohol inside the home who were also failing to observe social distancing and other guidelines in violation of the Governor’s Executive Orders designed to stem the COVID-19 pandemic, police said.

The homeowner, J. Rai, admitted knowing about the gathering and an investigation revealed that those in attendance at the party were between 16 and 17 years old, police said.

Officers contacted all of the juvenile’s guardians, who came to the home to assume custody of their children, police said. Rai was charged by Detective Dave Gallo with allowing the underage consumption of alcohol at his residence as well as violations of Executive Orders 152 and 157, police said.

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