Northbrook dad charged with allowing underage drinking at party

A 49-year-old man has been charged for not stopping an underage drinking party thrown by his daughter in their Northbrook home last weekend, officials said.

Val Evalen, 49, of 1972 Summerton Place, was charged with a local law violation for allowing teens to consume alcohol during party at his home, said Michael Shep, superintendent of community relations with the Northbrook Police Department.

He, and 16 underage drinkers arrested at the party, will appear in court on Dec. 1, Shep said.

At first, Shep described Evalen as a female and the mother of one of the party goers. But, after further review of the police report by the arresting officer, Shep discovered Evalen was male and the father of one of the teens.

Shep said police were called to the home at about 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 8, by neighbors complaining of noise coming from the house, Shep said.

When officers arrived, they discovered two teenage girls sitting on the front porch drinking a bottle of vodka, and another 50 or 60 teenagers mingling inside the home, Shep said.

Police knocked on the door where Evalen appeared and invited officers in, Shep said. He added that most teens at the party "darted for the exits" the second officers walked in the door, but that officers were able to corral about 20 or 25 of the party goers.

Police gave each teen a portable breath test and that 16 of the teens failed the Breathalyzer. Those 16 were cited for breaking the local underage drinking law.

"It sounds like a typical teen party, except that there was an adult present," he said. "The teens cited were either picked up by a parent, or sent home with a sober driver."