RUMFORD — In the past four days, four minors and two juveniles were charged with alcohol crimes during a campaign by Rumford police to curb underage drinking.
On Tuesday, Patrolman Bradlee Gallant charged Brandon Turbide, 19, Daniel Mclay, 20, and Joshua Blodgett, 20, all of Rumford, with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor, police Chief Stacy Carter stated Tuesday afternoon in a report.
They will be arraigned June 7 in Rumford District Court.
Blodgett was also arrested on a warrant charging an unpaid fine on a charge of allowing a place for minors to consume alcohol and taken to Oxford County Jail in Paris.
At 12:08 a.m. Sunday on Waldo Street, Gallant arrested Jill Schnorr, 18, of Dixfield, charging her with operating under the influence, illegal possession of alcohol by a minor, and operating beyond license restrictions, Carter said.
Schnorr was released on $1,000 unsecured bail and will be arraigned on July 5 in Rumford District Court.
Gallant also issued summonses to two other Dixfield girls, both 17, who were with Schnorr. The 17-year-olds were each charged with illegal possession of alcohol by a minor. They will also be arraigned June 7 in Rumford District Court.
“With the approach of summer vacation and high school graduations, we have seen an increase in the amount of underage drinking,” Carter said.
Thanks to grant money received from the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and the Maine Office of Substance Abuse to enforce underage drinking laws, Carter said he had focused additional manpower on continued efforts to enforce underage drinking laws.
“The extra patrols have been busy looking for underage drinking parties,” he said.
Rumford police and other area agencies are taking an aggressive stance against the problem in the River Valley area.
Of the seven youths charged, Carter said, “We encourage these minors to enjoy this time in their life by doing fun, safe alternative activities that do not include consuming alcohol.”
“We will continue our efforts to curb the amount of underage drinking so families can get through these joyous moments without a tragedy occurring,” he said.
“We ask that families, friends and concerned citizens report suspicious activity or known parties by calling the Rumford Police Department or anonymously through our tip line at Rumfordpd.com.”
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