12 teens arrested on underage drinking charges in Round Lake Park

Round Lake Park police say a dozen underage drinkers were arrested in two separate incidents Sunday and Monday.

Police Chief George Filenko said authorities were summoned to the first incident at 12:57 a.m. Sunday when an anonymous caller reported teenagers were entering and exiting a house through a bedroom window. He said the tipster also heard glass bottles loudly knocking together at the home in the 500 block of Greenwood Avenue.

Upon arrival, said Filenko, an officer found a 15-year-old Round Lake Park boy on the front porch with a strong odor of alcohol on his breath. He said the boy was placed in the back of a squad car.

Another teenager was arrested after the same officer watched him jump out the bedroom window, said Filenko. He said the youth's breath had a strong odor of alcohol.

Filenko said eight underage drinkers were charged in the Greenwood Avenue incident. He said the man who rents the home, 20-year-old Shawn Techen, was charged with keeping a disorderly house.

In a separate incident, Round Lake Park police were dispatched to a house in the 100 block of Willow Drive at 12:09 a.m. Monday on a complaint about a congregation of teenagers on the front lawn. Filenko said four teens were arrested after officers detected alcohol on their breath.

Filenko said Round Lake Park has been cracking down on underage drinking. He said the effort is justified because enough research shows teens who consume alcohol are more prone to be in traffic crashes and engage in high-risk behavior.

"I hate to keep using an old phrase, 'zero tolerance,' but it's a fact," Filenko said Tuesday.

Following are those who were arrested Sunday and Monday and the charges leveled against them.

• The 15-year-old Round Lake Park boy, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• Paul A. Garza, 18, of 1005 Bonnie Brook Lane, Round Lake Beach, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• Four 16-year-old Round Lake boys, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• Dylan J. Weber, 17, of 24725 W. Rollins Road in unincorporated Lake County, consumption of alcohol by a minor and resisting and obstructing a police officer. Filenko said Weber became combative during his arrest and yelled obscenities at police.

• Garrett E. Jackson, 17, of 1205 Sunnyside Court in Round Lake Beach, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• Timothy A. Robinson, 17, of 406 Forest Glen Drive, Round Lake Park, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• David Huerta, 18, of 401 Alpine Drive in Round Lake, consumption of alcohol by a minor and possession of alcohol by a minor.

• Cynthia Acevedo, 17, of 530 Woodland Drive, Round Lake Beach, consumption of alcohol by a minor.

• Alexander T. Huerta, 18, of 1501 Elm Ave., Round Lake Beach, possession and consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Filenko said parents of all of the teens were contacted after their arrests. He said beer was the alcoholic beverage involved in the incidents.