By CAPT. JAMES L. BRADBERRY
Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department

NEW PARIS — Members of the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Teenage Alcohol Reduction program team responded to a complaint of a large number of vehicles parked at the abandoned ski lodge, 18646 CR 50, New Paris, at 11:22 p.m. Friday, April 26. Once at the property, several subjects ran from the police and multiple subjects who were under the age of 21 were found to have consumed alcoholic beverages. No one had permission to be on the property and had gained access through a loose gate.

Of those arrested, three minors (under the age of 18) were cited and released to their parents for illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage. One minor under the age of 18 was cited and released to their parents for possession of marijuana.

Adults that were cited and released for illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage included the following: Mariah Defreese, 18, Elkhart; Slade Espada, 18, New Paris; Halee Horvavius, 18, Middlebury; Kyle Johns, 18, New Paris; Cyndee Prugh, 18, and December Sutterberg, 18, both of Elkhart.

Elkhart County Sheriff’s Teenage Alcohol Reduction team members and officers assisting with the investigation included Detective Brandon Denesuk, Detective Cameron McDowell, Cpl. Chad Hoien, Ptl. Ryan Huff and Ptl. Antonio Mantey.

The STAR team is comprised of officers from the Elkhart County Sheriff’s Department. Their main focus is to target and reduce underage drinking and smoking. STAR members continue to deter, intervene, and detect underage alcohol violations by educating the community and taking a proactive approach to deterrence and intervention when needed.