15 are arrested at Buda party

BUDA — Fifteen Bureau County teens were arrested early Sunday morning when officers busted an underage drinking party south of Buda.

On Tuesday, Bureau County Sheriff John Thompson said the sheriff’s department received a citizen report of a underage drinking party at 12:36 a.m. Sunday at 7978 800 East Street, about five miles south of Buda. One officer responded to the scene and then called for additional assistance when he saw the number of teens involved.

Three deputies, a Walnut police officer, and the Buda Fire and Ambulance Department responded to the scene. A number of the teens tried to escape by car or running into a nearby cornfield. The fire department was able to use an infrared/heat sensory viewing system to locate several teens hiding in a cornfield, Thompson said.

Thompson said the level of intoxication was high on some of the teens. A 16-year-old Wyanet girl was found passed out in the residence and transported by ambulance to Perry Memorial Hospital.

Austin Buckman, 18, of Buda was charged with permitting minors to consume alcohol at his residence/property.

A 17-year-old Sheffield boy was charged with escape, aggravated battery, criminal damage to government-supported property, illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor, obstructing an officer and resisting an officer, according to the sheriff’s department.

Thirteen additional teens were charged with illegal consumption of alcohol by a minor. Those teens included a 16-year-old Princeton girl; Nicole J. Townsend, 18, of Princeton; a 17-year-old Walnut boy; a 17-year-old Walnut girl; a 16-year-old Wyanet girl; a 17-year-old Princeton girl; a 17-year-old Tiskilwa girl; a 17-year-old Walnut boy; a 17-year-old Walnut girl; a 15-year-old Buda boy; a 16-year-old Wyanet girl; Brett M. Carlson, 18, of Wyanet; and a 17-year-old Walnut boy.

Additional charges could be filed against other teens also at the underage drinking party, Thompson said.

When contacted, the owner of the home said no one had permission to be at his residence, and no one had permission to have a party.

There were at least 18 vehicles at the rural Buda residence, Thompson said. Happ’s Towing, Circle T and Senica Towing were called to provide towing services. Teens were instructed to contact their parents and have them come to take them home, the sheriff said.