Full Notification

CITY OF PETALUMA, CALIFORNIA


NEWS RELEASE

Police Administration, 969 Petaluma Boulevard North, Petaluma, CA 94952
(707) 778-4372 Fax (707) 778-4376 E-mail:[email protected]
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Petaluma Police Department
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release/Broadcast

DATE: September 26, 2011

Report Number: 11-4447

Occurred Date and Time: Saturday, September 16, 2011at 4:57 PM

Incident: Intoxicated Juvenile transported to Emergency Room

Location: 700 block of B Street, Petaluma

Suspect: 15 year old male, Petaluma resident

Summary: On the listed date and time, a citizen reported that a group of juveniles were intoxicated in the street. One of the juveniles was being carried by the others. Officers responded to a residence, and found a 15 year old male, unconscious and being attended to by his friends. An ambulance was called and the juvenile was transported to Petaluma Valley Hospital. The juvenile was determined to be a .40% BAC and had to be put placed on a respirator and transferred into the ICU. It was determined that if the juvenile had not received immediate medical attention he may have died due to acute alcohol poisoning. Three other juveniles that were present were arrested for public intoxication and released to their parents. The juveniles were determined to be drinking rum. The investigating officer is attempting to determine how the juveniles obtained the alcohol.

The Petaluma Police Department, the Petaluma Coalition to Prevent Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drug Problems, and medical staff from Petaluma Valley Hospital have been employing many preventive strategies to prevent incidents such as this. Petaluma Valley Hospital has had 20 cases of acute alcohol poisoning between Jan 2009 and Jan 2011come into the ER Department. Through public outreach, parent training, school officials training, education to juveniles and increased enforcement strategies, we hope to curtail this dangerous trend.


Prepared by: Lt. Tim Lyons