Teens arrested, hospitalized at Powderpuff game
Published on December 3rd, 2008
STONEHAM, MA - Stoneham Police Chief Richard Bongiorno vowed to end the chaos surrounding the annual Powderpuff game at Broadway Field after one teen was arrested last Wednesday for disorderly conduct and two other youths were transported to area hospitals for alcohol poisoning.
According to police reports, a detail officer at the unsponsored event requested back-up at the Powderpuff contest last Wednesday after a crowd of approximately 200 people, many of whom were apparently intoxicated, gathered at Broadway Field and began causing trouble.
One 17-year-old female, who was allegedly drunk, was arrested at 1:38 p.m. by responding police and charged with disorderly conduct. An ambulance was also dispatched to the field at that time to treat one 16-year-old girl for alcohol poisoning.
Nearly two hours later, a second girl, also 16, was brought to Winchester Hospital for alcohol poisoning, while the parents of another teen were called by police to take custody of their drunk child.
"This is the second year in a row that these games have gotten out of hand, tying up an entire police shift," said a frustrated Bongiorno in a phone interview this week. "We have to stop this."
According to Bongiorno, the incident remains under investigation, and authorities are currently trying to determine who provided the alcohol to the underage teens.
If those people are identified, the police will pursue criminal charges against them.
The police chief, who had to respond to the chaotic scene himself last Wednesday, is currently exploring ways to ensure that any future Powderpuff game is a sponsored event.
Currently, neither the Stoneham school district or the police have any official involvement in the annual football game between SHS juniors and seniors.
In order to force some type of formal sponsorship, Bongiorno is recommending that a permit be required for any event on town fields that draws over 200 people. As part of that filing, the organizers will also have to submit a security plan.
"We're going to require that whoever is organizing this - and quite frankly, there's no organization whatsoever - that they pull a park permit," said the police chief. "If there is no permit filed and we see hundreds of youths on a field, we're going to [stop them]."
"The school does not sponsor this event and the police department certainly does not sponsor this type of activity. Clearly, we would like to see it sponsored," Bongiorno added.
Last year's Powderpuff game was also marred by drinking and violence after a fist fight erupted at the event. Two girls, both 18, were arrested at the scene for assault and battery.
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