Updated 3:20 p.m.
Davidson police raided two off-campus parties in the past week and issued nearly 40 citations for under-age drinking, all to Davidson College students. The police chief says more citations are likely as the town, campus police and state alcohol enforcement agents work together to enforce the state’s drinking age of 21. (Also below, the week’s police reports.)

Last week’s flurry of under-age drinking citations came as Davidson students returned to campus after summer break and are part of stepped-up enforcement by authorities, including town police and the state Alcohol Law Enforcement Division.

“We are committed to investigating and enforcing against under-age alcohol access,” Davidson Police Chief Jeanne Miller said Tuesday.

As police investigate the cases, she said, they’ll also be targeting providers – those over 21 who are providing alcohol to under-age drinkers in town. In one of cases last week, a man was charged with providing alcohol to under-age drinkers.

The first incident came on Tuesday, Aug. 24, when police received a call about loud noise at a home in the 200 block of North Thompson Street, near campus. When they arrived, they saw a large number of young people drinking.

After investigating, police issued 11 citations to students who ranged in age from 17 to 20 years old. In addition, Benjamin Williams, 22, was charged with providing alcohol to under-age people at the party.

Then on Saturday, Aug. 28, officer John Miller was on bike patrol in the Delburg/Watson street area when he heard a loud party at an apartment building at 442 Watson St. He investigated and discovered that some of those who were drinking were under age 21.

Three Davidson police officers and two state alcohol enforcement officers eventually issued a total of 27 citations for under-age drinking, all or nearly all to Davidson College students, according to a Davidson officer involved in the raid.

Richard Griffin, the special agent in charge for the Charlotte district of the state Alcohol Law Enforcement Division (ALE) said officers want to send a signal as the new college school year begins that they’ll be out investigating noise and under-age drinking complaints.

“Our main concern is safety,” he said. With the school year begun, students should know that “Hey, if you’re having a party and there’s under-age drinking, Davidson police or ALE may be there.

“That’s just to prevent problems down the road,” he said, such as drunken driving accidents, alcohol related injuries or even alcohol poisoning.

Besides the parties, Davidson police also issued several other under-age drinking citations over the past week in unrelated incidents. Two were on Griffith Street, while one involved a 17-year-old resident who was on the Davidson College campus.

Penalties for under-age drinking vary. Those ages 19 or 20 get a citation (like a traffic ticket) that carries a fine of at least $25 plus court costs. State officials say the penalties can be as high $200 and in some cases loss of a driver’s license. Those under 19 must appear in court and could face harsher penalties, according to Davidson police.

State officials say those caught providing alcohol to anyone under age 21 can face a $250 fine, $100 court costs, and a sentence of community service. (See more on the state public safety department web page.)

INCIDENT REPORTS

Davidson Police released the following incident reports over the past week.

MONDAY, AUG. 23, 2:30 pm., South Main Street at Chairman Blake Lane – An unidentified driver was turning left from Chairman Blake (at the CVS) onto South Main Street when he/she struck a 20-year-old Lorimer Road resident, who was walking her bicycle across the street in the crosswalk. Although the driver had a green light, he/she failed to yield to the pedestrian. The woman had a scraped leg. The driver stopped, but the victim screamed at the driver to leave. The driver left the scene.

MONDAY, AUG. 23, 15000 block of June Washam Road – John Blake Gaye, 32, of Davidson, was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and maintaining a dwelling for the purpose of selling a controlled substance. He was released on $9,000 bond.

TUESDAY, AUG. 24, 200 block of North Thompson Street – Police were called to a loud party and issued 12 citations for under-age consumption of alcohol.

THURSDAY, AUG. 26, 409 Ridge Rd., Davidson College apartments – A 17-year-old Davidson man was at a party in the student apartment when a witness saw him putting a MacBook Pro laptop computer worth $2,100 into his bag. The witness chased the alleged thief outside, where other witnesses held him until police arrived. Davidson College campus police responded, as did the town police. They charged Lavarious Martel Stewart, 17, with felony larceny. He also was charged with under-age consumption of alcohol. He was released on $1,500 bond. (This is an update to an item we reported in last week’s Police Blotter.)

SATURDAY, AUG. 28, 442 Watson St. – An officer on bicycle patrol observed a loud party. An investigation found many young people drinking. Davidson police and state Alcohol Law Enforcement officers issued 27 citations for under-age consumption of alcohol.

TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT, AUG. 15-21

• BRADFORD PARK – 1 for expired registration.
• CONCORD ROAD – 1 for speeding.
• GRIFFITH STREET – 2 for speeding, 2 for under-age consumption of alcohol.
• NORTH MAIN STREET – 1 for speeding.
• ROBERT WALKER DRIVE – 6 for speeding.

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NOTE: This article has been updated to correct the number of citations issued at the Thompson Street party and to add the fact that a man was charged with providing the alcohol. The update is the result of new information from Davidson police this afternoon.