Police Disperse 2 Large For Profit Parties In Gloucester Township

GLOUCESTER TOWNSHIP, NJ — Two house parties that were described as “loud and out of control” disrupted residential neighborhoods in Gloucester Township and drew police to the scene. Both parties took place on Aug. 7, Gloucester Township police said Friday morning.

First, police responded to 9 Laurel Wood Court at 6:38 p.m. They said they found a large party with people in the street causing a disturbance and playing loud music. They had parked their cars throughout this typically quiet neighborhood, and at a nearby shopping center.

Some of the partygoers were trespassing and cutting through neighbors’ properties on Downs Avenue, police said.

A security guard who was hired for the event told the officers it was a graduation party. However, some of the between 200 and 250 people in attendance told police that they had paid an admission fee of $20 to $50.

Police shut down the party and charged homeowner Tavon Miles with maintaining a nuisance. Police also conducted parking and traffic enforcement due to several vehicles blocking resident’s driveways, parking within intersections, and parking within stop signs.

Four hours later, at about 10:42 p.m., police responded to 9 Gable Court, where they said they found numerous vehicles leaving the scene, a large crowd of people in the street causing a disturbance, and loud music playing.

When police told the crowd to disperse, a 17-year-old boy refused and tried to pick a fight, police said. A crowd of people surrounded the officer, who called for emergency help, police said.

The Gloucester Township Police Watch Commander ordered all available officers to the scene, and requested mutual aid from surrounding police departments. Together, the officers dispersed the crowd and brought the situation under control, police said.

The 17-year-old was charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing administration. He was arrested and later released to his parents.

Police determined that homeowner Gerald Brown had been throwing a “for profit” party. He was charged with maintaining a nuisance.

“Both of these incidents put a strain on the resources of the Gloucester Township Police Department, causing most available officers on duty, and in neighboring towns, to respond to bring them under control,” police said in a statement. “ These out of control, “for profit” parties are occurring in residential neighborhoods that are not designed to handle this type of party events. Both residences were referred to the Gloucester Township Code Enforcement and Zoning Offices for violations. Both parties left litter and broken glass to be left in the streets of these neighborhoods, and clean up by the Public Works Department was requested.”

• Read more here: Police Break Up House Party Attended By 250 In Gloucester Twp.
• Read more here: Gloucester Twp. PD Breaks Up Party Attended By Hundreds Of People

Police said these parties were not cases of residents having family and friends over for a party. These were “for profit” parties, in which residents use their homes and backyard pools as a way of making money.

These parties often go viral and attract party goers from across the region, whose intention is to get intoxicated and cause havoc for the neighbors and for the responding police officers, police said.

“We will not tolerate these types of wild money making parties in our neighborhoods,” Gloucester Township Police Chief David Harkins said. “We will use all enforcement tools at our disposal to maintain the peace in our community. I strongly encourage homeowners to avoid these types of parties, the fines and ill will brought on to your neighbors is not worth it.”

The Gloucester Township Police Department said it will use all available resources to maintain the peace in our community, including noise metering, traffic and parking enforcement citations, local ordinance violations, and criminally charging the homeowner with maintaining a nuisance.