Crime & Safety

Police Arrest Tinley Park Parents, Accuse Them of Hosting Underage Drinking Bash

Police said as many as 30 14- to 17-year-olds were found drinking booze at a New Year's Eve house party where two parents tried to cover for them. The pair, who told the cops they were supervising a party for their teenage daughter, were arrested.

Police accused two parents of contributing to the delinquency of minors after reports of a loud New Year's bash led to the discovery of dozens of underage drinkers, including one who was lying in his own vomit.

Two officers showed up at a home in the 8100 block of Valley View Drive around 10:35 p.m. Dec. 31, according to the police report. As they walked up, they heard a male voice telling everyone to "get into the basement" and that the "cops were here," the report said. 

As one officer rang the doorbell, the other walked toward the back yard where she reported seeing a girl who appeared underage holding a can of beer and smoking a cigarette. The girl ran into the basement with the other partygoers. 

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After a couple minutes of ringing the doorbell, William Opferman, 41, answered, police said. 

"I advised Opferman of the complaint and he said they would quiet down," an officer wrote in the report. "Opferman advised me that he and his wife were supervising a party for his teenage daughter and her friends. Opferman further advised me that there were no alcoholic beverages being consumed by the juveniles."

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Shortly after police began speaking with Opferman, two parents walked up to the door wanting to pick up their children. They said they'd received calls from their kids who said they were uncomfortable in the house because of the underage drinking going on there, the report stated. 

A third officer soon arrived and found a male juvenile stumbling around in the back yard, the report said. The juvenile—he admitted to drinking alcohol—had to be helped to the front of the home, police said.

When police re-approached the residence, Opferman's wife, Kimberly, 37, answered the door.

During a walk-through of the home, police said, officers found a juvenile "dazed laying on the floor in the laundry room adjacent to the attached garage." The boy was lying in his own vomit, according to the report, and his parents were notified to come to the house.

Empty Busch Light and Bud Light cans were scattered around the basement, police said, and an empty bottle of Smirnoff vodka was also found there. Officers said they found between 25 and 30 juveniles, 14 to 17 years of age, in the basement. 

"Approximately 90 percent admitted to consuming an alcoholic beverage at the party," the report said. "Each and every juvenile's parents were notified of the incident. … Every juvenile that was consuming alcohol was released to a parent."

Those who said they hadn't been drinking submitted breath samples for confirmation, police said. 

Kimberly and William Opferman were arrested and each charged with one count of unlawfully allowing a minor to become intoxicated. They declined to comment Tuesday evening.

On Jan. 1, each posted $150 bond and were released. They're expected in court Jan. 26 at 1:30 p.m. in Bridgeview.

 

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