Police investigate reports
of underage drinking
By Kathy McCarty
PRESQUE ISLE — Local police investigated two separate cases in as many weeks involving underage drinking.
The first case was reported on Tuesday, Sept. 14, at approximately 11:35 a.m., and involved a group of students at Presque Isle High School. According to the Presque Isle Police Department log, a school official reported to police that they had a student who was severely impaired and requested an officer respond to the school. Officer Kevin Reed responded to investigate and learned the unidentified 15-year-old male had been found to be impaired on some type of drug and was subsequently removed from the school.
School officials advised Reed that several other students were believed to also be impaired. Three minors and one 18-year-old were questioned and found to be under the influence of alcohol. The youths, all from Presque Isle, were subsequently suspended for 10 days and charged accordingly.
A 15-year-old girl was charged with possession of liquor by a minor through consumption, possession of a usable amount of marijuana, and sale and use of drug paraphernalia. The teenager became upset at school staff, yelling obscenities and, at one point, threatening to assault Tim McCue, SAD 1’s safety director, before she left the school. Her blood alcohol level was reportedly .04
A 14-year-old female was also charged with possession of liquor by a minor through consumption. Her blood alcohol level was reported to be .07.
A third student, a 14-year-old male, was charged with possession of liquor by a minor through consumption. He was transported to The Aroostook Medical Center by Crown Ambulance for possible alcohol poisoning; his blood alcohol level was reported to be .11.
The fourth individual, was charged with possession of liquor by a minor through consumption, with a reported blood alcohol level of .12.
All were given a Nov. 4 Presque Isle District Court date.
The second incident involving minors drinking was reported 10 days later. The PIPD received a report on Friday, Sept. 24, at approximately 12:02 a.m. that someone was furnishing a place for minors to drink on Oak Street.
Officer Reed was assigned to investigate. He located the party and subsequently summonsed Sean P. Muriel, 19, of Presque Isle, for furnishing a place for minors to consume alcohol. Muriel was also warned to go to the court and take care of a warrant for failure to pay fines pertaining to unlawful possession. Two 17-year-old females, both of Presque Isle, were charged with illegal possession and released to their respective parents. A juvenile court date was given of Nov. 4 at Presque Isle District Court. No blood alcohol levels were indicated in this case.
Maine law has zero tolerance with regard to minors consuming alcohol — or a 0.0 blood alcohol level. The legal drinking age in Maine is 21. Minors found with any alcohol content in their blood can be charged accordingly.
