MARIETTA POLICE DEPARTMENT
240 LEMON STREET, MARIETTA, GEORGIA 30060-1688
Policing with a Vision
Chief Dan Flynn
PHONE (770) 794-5300
Public Information Officer – Officer David Baldwin
770-794-5370 (office) 770-235-1915 (cell)
****************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*******************
INCIDENT: Parents Beware! A public safety announcement on teen parties at local clubs
DATE: April 11, 2012
The Marietta Police Department is alerting parents in the metro Atlanta area as to the conduct and incidents that tend to occur at teen parties (sometimes referred to as foam parties) in local clubs. Teen parties may appear harmless or safe because they are held in business establishments, but they are in fact a very dangerous place. Violence (including the use of knives and guns), gang involvement, lewd sexual conduct and underage drinking are documented incidents that are most times common place at these events.
The venue for teen parties are commonly held in local night clubs and are most often not chaperoned. During teen foam party events, the businesses remain open to the general public and serve alcoholic beverages to patrons of legal drinking age. Advertisements for teen parties will encourage all girls to wear bathing suits or minimal clothing regardless of their age. Lewd and vulgar sexual acts involving teens and sometimes adults occur overtly and publicly within teen parties. In addition, there are incidents of intoxicated minors as well as gang involvement. Members of local and rival gangs will attend teen parties and interact with party goers. Because of the mixture of gangs and alcohol at teen parties violence is very common, especially after the party lets out. Types of violence include large numbers of fights, which often times weapons are displayed or used.
Social media websites such as Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and Twitter have become popular media outlets for advertising teen parties. Teen party details are also distributed by using printed flyers that are being passed out illegally at schools. We are encouraging parents to be very involved with their children’s activities and to thoroughly investigate the local clubs in which their children may attend. In addition, we strongly encourage that if parents drop their children off at teen parties that they promptly pick them up at the conclusion of the event.
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