Valparaiso teacher arrested at underage drinking party

Valparaiso police arrested 18 people at an underage drinking party on Valparaiso’s north side early Sunday morning, including one of the homeowners, a Valparaiso High School science teacher, who was charged with resisting law enforcement, a release said.

Police responded to a tip about an “ongoing underage drinking party” around 12:22 a.m. Sunday in the 4100 block of Sleighbell Lane, according to a release from Capt. Joe Hall, that department’s public information officer.

When police arrived, they found multiple people outside who were found to be underage and had recently consumed alcohol, Hall said.

Hall said police confirmed more people were in the basement of the home where the gathering was taking place.

Officers made contact with the homeowners, who let them inside.

Police determined that none of the people at the party were 21 years of age or older and numerous alcoholic beverage containers were visible throughout the room.

Police determined 17 people had violated the minor consumption of alcohol statute.

Most were 18 or 19 and from Valparaiso, according to the release.

Police said one of the homeowners, 47, became uncooperative with officers and began to interfere and obstruct the investigation.

“As officers attempted to restrain her, she physically pulled away from them multiple times,” Hall said.

The Post-Tribune is not identifying the homeowner because she has not been formally charged but she is listed as a science teacher in Valparaiso High School’s online staff directory.

The administration of the Valparaiso School Corp. declined to comment.

Police transported the woman, charged with resisting law enforcement, and the partygoers to Porter County Jail.