ATHENS, Tenn. — A weekend raid on a Park Crest apartment led to the arrest of 16 Tennessee Wesleyan College students attending what police described as a back-to-school party.

Students were charged with a variety of offenses, from underage drinking to contributing to the delinquency of minors, authorities said. Most were freshmen and none is from McMinn County, according to police reports.

TWC President Stephen Condon said Monday the students will be counseled individually. Any who are in athletic programs may face sanctions from coaches.

“This is not how we want to start this school year,” Dr. Condon said.

According to the police report, Officer Beth Blake was on patrol when she heard loud music and noise from the second-floor apartment. She went upstairs and looked though an open door, where she saw empty beer and liquor bottles. She called for backup and police placed the partiers under arrest, the report stated.

Athens police Capt. Rob Davis said the department has “zero tolerance for underage drinking.”

All of those arrested were given court dates and released on bond.

Two adult students were charged with contributing to delinquency of minors along with the 19-year-old tenant, records show. The others were charged with underage drinking.

Police Chief Chuck Ziegler said previous beer busts have involved adult parties and some where high school students were present.

“We have had some incidents with TWC students, but it is not a major problem,” he said. And this is the biggest single party bust the department has made, he said.

Capt. Davis said he hopes the incident will teach the students a lesson about underage drinking.

Comments