Underage drinking party in St. Charles erupts into battle royal

A party in St. Charles turned into a battle royal Saturday after a man reportedly punched a woman in the face, resulting in a brawl that ended with the arrests of at least seven people.

Police arrived at a home on the 2800 block of Turnberry Road in St. Charles on Aug. 14 to find about 50 people in a melee in the front yard, according to a police report. About half the people fled the scene as police arrived. Bloody noses, missing shirts, torn clothing and bumps and bruises were rampant among those who remained, according to the report.

When the punches ended, police detained the remaining party guests and found a number of them who admitted to consuming alcohol before the brawl began were underage.

The home's owner told police he was aware his 21-year-old son was having a party, and checked before any drinking began to make sure everyone was old enough, reports said.

When asked about the underage individuals who admitted to drinking at the party, the homeowner told police they were intoxicated before they arrived, according to reports. Police decided not to charge the homeowner as they had no proof he knowingly supplied alcohol to people he knew to be underage.

Witnesses at the party said the fight began when a man punched a woman in the face, police said. Multiple people then jumped in to defend the woman, sparking the rumble.

The man who punched the woman, and two other men with him, fled the scene before police arrived and could not be located, reports said.

Police issued underage drinking citations to following people:

• Zachary L. Singleton, 19, of the 800 block of Butternut in Mt. Prospect

• Rodrigo Ortega, 19, of the 900 block of Buccaneer Drive in Schaumburg

• Peter E. Chaote, 19, of the 2600 block of Pirates Cove in Schaumburg

• Candice D. Gearhart, 18, of the 300 block of Rimini Court in Palatine

• Ross L. Fisher, 19, of the 400 block of Rambler Lane in Streamwood

• Nicholas D. Meilahn, 20, of the 300 block of East Rimini in Palatine

• Daniel J. Meilahn, 19, of the 300 block of East Rimini in Palatine.

At least one other underage girl also was arrested on charges of underage drinking, but she was not fully identified in the police report.