SAN DIEGO, CA — Two parents were arrested after authorities said they allowed an underage house party that drew hundreds of people and required a large law enforcement response in San Diego.
Deputies responded shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday to a home in the 6300 block of El Apajo in the Rancho Santa Fe neighborhood, where a resident reported an out-of-control house party and requested help removing attendees, according to the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office.
When deputies arrived, they found several hundred people, including both adults and minors, inside the property and outside the main gate. Initially, many partygoers refused to leave, prompting deputies to request additional assistance, the sheriff’s office said.
Deputies from multiple sheriff’s stations, along with officers from the San Diego Police Department and the California Highway Patrol, responded and helped disperse the crowd.
A section of El Apajo was temporarily closed to traffic as partygoers left the area. No injuries or property damage were reported, officials said.
During the investigation, deputies determined the parents of a 16-year-old girl had allowed her to host the party, where minors were drinking alcohol, according to the sheriff’s office. The parents were arrested on suspicion of violating the county’s social host ordinance, which is a misdemeanor.
The parents were cited and released, officials said. The case will be forwarded to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for review.
Under the ordinance, violators may face fines of up to $1,000 and up to six months in jail. They may also be held liable for law enforcement costs associated with the incident.
Authorities asked anyone who witnessed the party or has additional information to contact the Poway Sheriff’s Station at 858-513-2800.