Drinking Party Caught On Tape

Another weekend, another underage drinking bust.

This one happened a home southwest of Hudson Friday night. Investigators say at least one hundred students and adults were celebrating the end of the school year.

A tip from someone connected to the Netherlands Reformed Christian school in Rock Valley Iowa led investigators to what they say was an end-of-the-year drinking party at a Lincoln County farm.

The school principal wouldn't comment on the case, but video provided by law enforcement says plenty about what deputies discovered.

A roaring bonfire surrounded by young people is what a Lincoln County sheriff's deputy saw as she pulled up to a farmhouse late Friday night.

State's attorney Tom Wollman says, "It wasn't hard to figure out where the party was as deputies went rolling past this place."

Only some kids stuck around to make it on the deputy's in-car video tape. Investigators estimate up to 100 more scattered as law enforcement arrived. It took hours to sort everyone out, and only six people were ultimately cited for underage drinking.

Wollman says, "Plenty more than that got away."

Wollman says the bigger issue is that in a big crowd like this, the sheriff's department ends up responding when parents should have been supervising.

He says, "By my math that makes it over 200 parents that at 11:30 at night or 1:30am have no idea what their kids are doing."

Investigators think a 21-year-old hosted the party. And Wollman says the problem of underage drinking is compounded by those so-called adults.

He says, "Who don't think twice about handing a beer can to a 17-year-old or 16-year-old kid and letting them drink on their property. It's ridiculous."

And he's relieved all the young people he believes got away without being cited, got home safely.

Wollman says, "Thank goodness we made it through another weekend without a fatality."

Three 21 year olds are facing charges from the illegal weekend party. Investigators say David Rozeboom of rural Hudson hosted the event and is charged with maintaining a place used for violation of beverage laws. He could face up to a year in jail. Jonathan Fluit of rural Fairview and Timothy Lange of Doon Iowa each face a charge of obstructing a law enforcement investigation, after deputies say they tried to hide a keg.