SEBASTIAN — A woman was arrested over the weekend after throwing an open house party involving alcohol for the Sebastian River High Sharks Rowing team.
The Sebastian Police Department arrested Tonya Reed, 43, of 625 Collins St., Sebastian, in the early morning hours of May 18 after an officer responded to the area of a reported suspicious vehicle near Layport Drive and Collins Street.
At around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, the officer walked the area and heard loud yelling and cheering at the 625 Collins St. location where numerous vehicles were parked in front of and near.
According to the arrest report, the officer observed several juveniles inside the home and made contact with two juvenile males who were holding open bottles of Bud Light Platinum beer. The officer saw through the open door another 20 to 30 youth, some of whom were also holding open alcoholic beverages.
“This is extremely disappointing,” Sebastian River High Athletic Director Michael Stutzke said when told of the open house party on Monday. Stutzke added that it is “unacceptable behavior” for members of the Rowing team – and anyone under age – to be drinking alcohol.
The officer made contact with the homeowner, identified as Reed, who said she had thrown the party for the Rowing team but she didn’t anticipate it being so large.
When the youth noticed the officer’s presence – after the officer made presence known – many fled out the rear of the home through the screen porch, according to the arrest report.
The officer was able to keep approximately 15 juveniles within the officer’s presence. According to the officer, many of the juveniles said they had been consuming alcohol at the home and one juvenile said he brought his own alcohol to the party.
Reed faces a misdemeanor charge of Open House Party and has since been released from the county jail in lieu of $500 bond.
The members of the Sharks Rowing team could also face consequences, according to Stutzke, who said the matter would be referred to Sebastian River High Principal Todd Racine. A message left for Racine was not immediately returned.
“He’s going to be extremely disappointed,” Stutzke said of Racine. “He takes a strong line on this.”
As for the students, Stutzke said because the rowing season is over there would be little the school could do to handle any outgoing seniors on the team who were at the party. Underclassmen, however, could be placed on probation, suspended from a number of competitions, or face other such punishment.
Stutzke said it is possible for the team members to be placed on a behavior contract, putting them on notice that if they step out of line they could lose the privilege to be on the team.