Post by WaTcHeR on Aug 29, 2006 11:37:04 GMT -5
08.29.2006 - EPPING, N.H. - A back-to-school party with lingerie-clad women and a New York disc jockey was broken up by authorities early yesterday morning at a rural home and business off Prescott Road, police said.
Liquor enforcement agents told police the party was one of the largest they had ever seen, pulling in 350 to 600 people, including underage drinkers, Epping Police Chief Gregory Dodge said.
"We certainly were outnumbered and we got to the point where it could have been pretty volatile," Dodge said.
Eighteen were arrested and police intend to charge the host for facilitating an underage drinking party, Dodge said. Many revelers were able to flee into the woods to avoid authorities, he said.
State investigators found a loaded AK-47 in the trunk of the car of two party-goers arrested behind Xtra Mart convenience store later in the morning, police said.
The host, Paul Gatchell of 44 Prescott Road, yesterday said police had overblown the party, which he maintained was under control and smaller than stated. No one was stationed to check identifications, but teenagers trying to sneak in were turned away, he said.
Gatchell denied women were encouraged to wear lingerie, as police alleged. The New York DJ grew up in Exeter and drives a car with New Hampshire plates, using the Big Apple to promote himself, he said.
"It's a bunch of people getting together and enjoying each other's company," said Gatchell, 35, an Epping High School graduate who runs Gatchell Excavation. "I don't see how that could be wrong."
Gatchell said he holds a handful of outdoor events each year that are spread through word of mouth. People swim at a pond on the 43-acre property, eat barbecue and listen to music from a stage he's set up. He said he always invites his neighbors to attend.
On Saturday night, about 100 to 150 people showed up to hear three bands, said Gatchell. For the first time, he charged a cover, in order to pay the musicians.
Police arrived hours before the event, parking in front of the property and intending to make arrests, Gatchell said.
"It seems like they were looking for a situation to happen," he said. "But there was no situation."
Police said 23 local and state officers with a warrant moved to break up the party at 12:54 a.m. The crowd became unruly as police started shutting the music down, and authorities called in University of New Hampshire police and their van and riot control equipment.
As the party dispersed, police began checking identifications. Eleven people were arrested for internal possession of alcohol, four were taken into protective custody and one person was charged for resisting arrest and simple assault against one of the police officers, police said.
The DJ, who identified himself as Statik Selektah, said police kept asking people for identification, "but weren't catching anybody."
"It looked to me that everyone was of age," said Selektah, who wouldn't give his real name. "They just shut it down anyway."
Selektah said he was arrested and put in a squad car.
"Basically to avoid a riot they let me go," he said. "People were chanting my name, like, free Statik.'"
Dodge said the party drew people from as far as Haverhill, Mass., as well as the Epping, Newmarket and Fremont area. Police were investigating how the event was advertised, he said.
"It was very organized," Dodge said.
Gatchell has hosted other parties that police have had suspicions about, Dodge said. This one drew noise complaints from as far as the Hamilton Heights neighborhood, about 1 and 1/2 to two miles away, he said.
Two neighbors defended Gatchell, saying they have no complaints about the events he hosts.
On Prescott Road, houses sit far from each other. Woods line a street that eventually snakes to the historic home of Gov. Benjamin Prescott.
"He has parties here all the time. It doesn't bother me," said one man, who would not give his name. He added: "There's been louder times than last night."
The other neighbor said Gatchell is a "good guy" who recently loaned her equipment to help her paint her house. She said she doubts underage drinkers were invited to the party.
"I know when I was in high school and when I heard there was a party like that, I'd go find it," said Kathy, who declined to provide her last name.
Gatchell, "just likes to have a good time," she said. "We all know Gatch is going to have a party."Gatchell said his girlfriend's parents live across the street and attended the event. His 10-year-old daughter was not there this time, but usually helps drive people around in a golf cart, he said.
Only once before have police come onto the property during a party, Gatchell said. The other time, they did not bring charges, he said.
"I'm trying to live the American dream," said Gatchell. "And I guess people don't like that."
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14548523/
Liquor enforcement agents told police the party was one of the largest they had ever seen, pulling in 350 to 600 people, including underage drinkers, Epping Police Chief Gregory Dodge said.
"We certainly were outnumbered and we got to the point where it could have been pretty volatile," Dodge said.
Eighteen were arrested and police intend to charge the host for facilitating an underage drinking party, Dodge said. Many revelers were able to flee into the woods to avoid authorities, he said.
State investigators found a loaded AK-47 in the trunk of the car of two party-goers arrested behind Xtra Mart convenience store later in the morning, police said.
The host, Paul Gatchell of 44 Prescott Road, yesterday said police had overblown the party, which he maintained was under control and smaller than stated. No one was stationed to check identifications, but teenagers trying to sneak in were turned away, he said.
Gatchell denied women were encouraged to wear lingerie, as police alleged. The New York DJ grew up in Exeter and drives a car with New Hampshire plates, using the Big Apple to promote himself, he said.
"It's a bunch of people getting together and enjoying each other's company," said Gatchell, 35, an Epping High School graduate who runs Gatchell Excavation. "I don't see how that could be wrong."
Gatchell said he holds a handful of outdoor events each year that are spread through word of mouth. People swim at a pond on the 43-acre property, eat barbecue and listen to music from a stage he's set up. He said he always invites his neighbors to attend.
On Saturday night, about 100 to 150 people showed up to hear three bands, said Gatchell. For the first time, he charged a cover, in order to pay the musicians.
Police arrived hours before the event, parking in front of the property and intending to make arrests, Gatchell said.
"It seems like they were looking for a situation to happen," he said. "But there was no situation."
Police said 23 local and state officers with a warrant moved to break up the party at 12:54 a.m. The crowd became unruly as police started shutting the music down, and authorities called in University of New Hampshire police and their van and riot control equipment.
As the party dispersed, police began checking identifications. Eleven people were arrested for internal possession of alcohol, four were taken into protective custody and one person was charged for resisting arrest and simple assault against one of the police officers, police said.
The DJ, who identified himself as Statik Selektah, said police kept asking people for identification, "but weren't catching anybody."
"It looked to me that everyone was of age," said Selektah, who wouldn't give his real name. "They just shut it down anyway."
Selektah said he was arrested and put in a squad car.
"Basically to avoid a riot they let me go," he said. "People were chanting my name, like, free Statik.'"
Dodge said the party drew people from as far as Haverhill, Mass., as well as the Epping, Newmarket and Fremont area. Police were investigating how the event was advertised, he said.
"It was very organized," Dodge said.
Gatchell has hosted other parties that police have had suspicions about, Dodge said. This one drew noise complaints from as far as the Hamilton Heights neighborhood, about 1 and 1/2 to two miles away, he said.
Two neighbors defended Gatchell, saying they have no complaints about the events he hosts.
On Prescott Road, houses sit far from each other. Woods line a street that eventually snakes to the historic home of Gov. Benjamin Prescott.
"He has parties here all the time. It doesn't bother me," said one man, who would not give his name. He added: "There's been louder times than last night."
The other neighbor said Gatchell is a "good guy" who recently loaned her equipment to help her paint her house. She said she doubts underage drinkers were invited to the party.
"I know when I was in high school and when I heard there was a party like that, I'd go find it," said Kathy, who declined to provide her last name.
Gatchell, "just likes to have a good time," she said. "We all know Gatch is going to have a party."Gatchell said his girlfriend's parents live across the street and attended the event. His 10-year-old daughter was not there this time, but usually helps drive people around in a golf cart, he said.
Only once before have police come onto the property during a party, Gatchell said. The other time, they did not bring charges, he said.
"I'm trying to live the American dream," said Gatchell. "And I guess people don't like that."
www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14548523/