OCC baseball team's preseason canceled after drinking party

Oakton Community College in Des Plaines has canceled its fall preseason baseball training after 25 members of its baseball team were caught in an underage drinking bust.

A late-night text message alerting Des Plaines police to a loud house party on the 400 block of East Columbia Avenue led to charges against 43 partygoers, most for underage drinking, police said.

Officers responding to the tip, received about 11:15 p.m. Sept. 25, found empty beer cans and plastic cups strewed across the front and backyards of the home.

"We've met with the (baseball) team and the players that were involved," said Bruce Oates, director of athletics and registrar services. "We have suspended the remainder of our fall baseball season."

The time those athletes would have spent in play or practice for the remainder of the season will now be spent in mandatory study halls doing academic work, Oates said.

"We do take this seriously and we have very high expectations for our students who participate in athletics and we are addressing this situation," Oates said.

"It's important for us to teach life lessons whenever and wherever possible. And this is going to be one of them."

Baseball will resume in the spring, he added.

The incident also involved two members of Oakton's volleyball team who will be disciplined as well, Oates said.

"We're still reviewing those two situations," he said.

Oates would not name the students who are being disciplined.

Police arrested and charged Jeremy Wilson and Tyler Siebert, both 19 and residents of the home, with consumption of alcohol by a minor.

Also charged with the same offense were:

Michael F. Ahern, 18, of the 300 block of Lockwood Avenue, Northfield;

Colter R. Beck, 18, of the 4200 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Kate E. Bird, 19, of the 100 block of Glenview Road, Glenview;

Justin A. Blevins, 18, of the 4300 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Derek S. Brown, 19, of the 3000 block of North Windsor Drive, Arlington Heights;

Eric J. Corrao, 19, of the 4700 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Krista N. Dirksen, 19, of the 100 block of South Prospect Avenue, Elmhurst;

Daniel F. Duran, 19, of the 5100 block of Pratt, Skokie;

Joseph C. Frahm, 20, of the 1800 block of East Lincoln Avenue, Des Plaines;

James L. Franklin, 19, of the 0-100 block of North Westgate Road, Des Plaines;

Ryan D. Tuntland, 19, of the 1700 block of Morse Avenue, Des Plaines;

Joseph L. Gajda, 19, of the 7100 block of West Main, Niles;

Alexander S. Gould, 19, of the 5100 block of Birchwood Avenue, Skokie;

Colton M. Havens, 20, of the 600 block of East Shawnee, Freeport;

Ryan R. Hickey, 19, of the 4200 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Theresa Hojnacki, 20, of the 1300 block of Western Avenue, Northbrook;

Andrew J. Kornak, 18, of the 8200 block of North Wisner, Niles;

Ronald A. Laramie, 19, of the 4300 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Nicholas Leon, 20, of the 0-100 block of Fletcher Drive, Des Plaines;

Shane Uhle, 20, of the 200 block of South Hi-Lusi Avenue, Mount Prospect;

Erika M. Lira, 19, of the 700 block of Coral Avenue, Bartlett;

Troy J. Mannebach, 18, of the 4300 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Bradley J. Martin, 18, of the 28600 block of North Tanglewood Court, Libertyville;

Dustin A. Meier, 19, of the 4300 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview;

Christine N. Ocampo, 18, of the 5300 block of Wright Terrace, Skokie;

David M. Palma, 19, of the 1800 block of Redwood Avenue, Hanover Park;

Matthew J. Perez, 18, of the 400 block of 69th Street, Darien; Anna B. Poloncarz, 19, of the 7100 block of West Main Street, Niles;

Scott W. Rein, 19, of the 800 block of East Oakton Street, Des Plaines;

Lauren A. Salas, 19, of the 5600 block of North Luna Avenue, Chicago;

Deanna Silvestri, 19, of the 2000 block of North 76th Avenue, Elmwood Park;

Michael J. Spalla, 19, of the 800 block of Carolyn, Park Ridge;

Morgan R. Wagner, 19, of the 1600 block of Barberry, Freeport;

Richard Zuniga, 18, of the 4200 block of Westlake Avenue, Glenview,

A girl and boy, both 17, also were charged.

Charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor were: Grzegorz J. Chmiel, 21, of the 8600 block of Austin, Morton Grove; Ryan J. Holda, 20, of the 6800 block of West 127th Street, Palos Heights; Nicholas A. Limjoco, 21, of the 8800 block of North Meade Avenue, Morton Grove; and Mateusz Plosznski, 21, of the 9000 block of Mason Avenue, Morton Grove.

Fallon M. Groh, 19, of the 3000 block of Palm Lane, Northbrook, was charged with consumption of alcohol by a minor, battery to a peace officer and obstructing a peace officer.

Groh swore repeatedly at officers both at the home and in the police department, police said. She pushed an officer in the chest when the officer tried to take her rubber hair band from her hand in a holding cell, the charges allege. Her court date is Oct. 14.

The other arrestees were issued compliance tickets, which means they were released without having to pay bond.

Des Plaines and Park Ridge police departments recently added text messaging as a means for people to report crimes anonymously. Park Ridge police first received the text tipping them to the party and notified Des Plaines.

To send a tip, text to CRIMES or 274637; begin the message with ICARE then type the message and hit send. In a few seconds, a confirmation message will be sent with an Anonymous Alias ID.