16-year-old host's parents arrested after ‘out of control' Rancho Santa Fe party
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department announced on Tuesday that the parents of a Rancho Santa Fe 16-year-old had been arrested after their child hosted what deputies said was a house party that grew out of control.
Deputies were called out Saturday night after hundreds of young people showed up for the party. Authorities told NBC 7 deputies were dispatched to the home on El Apajo Road shortly after 8 p.m. following reports of a disruptive gathering. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the scene involved hundreds of attendees, described by deputies as mostly “kids.” It remains unclear whether any of those present were over the age of 18.
According to the sheriff’s office, the residents “allowed their 16-year-old daughter to host the party. There were minors consuming alcohol at the residence, and the two [adult] residents were placed under arrest for San Diego County social host ordinances. The two adult residents were issued citations and released.”
Violating San Diego County’s social host ordinance is a misdemeanor. The arrest will be submitted to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office for review, officials said. Violating the social host ordinance can result in a fine up to $1,000 and/or county jail time of up to six months.
Videos posted on social media after the party showed dozens of people walking through the normally quiet neighborhood with police vehicles present.
Online speculation suggested the gathering was taking place at a vacant luxury property listed for sale at around $16 million. However, NBC 7 Investigates spoke with the Realtor of that property, who said the party did not happen there. Instead, the Realtor said, the event was hosted by at a neighboring home.
At one point during the night, deputies say fireworks were set off during the party. The situation escalated to the point where additional assistance was requested from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the San Diego Police Department (SDPD). A section of El Apajo was closed to prevent collisions while the group was leaving the area, according to the Sheriff’s Office. There were no reports of damages or injuries.
Authorities say it took roughly two hours from the initial call for deputies to clear the scene.
NBC 7 found a flyer promoting the event that was circulated on social media ahead of the party. The advertisement mentioned a cover charge, claiming “hundreds expected,” and “strict security.” The flyer also referenced a $16 million home as the venue.
SDPD has previously said that investigators are keeping an eye on social media accounts used to promote these types of events.
“We do have detectives that are monitoring social media, especially when we know that there’s one social media page that’s putting out all the parties then we can follow that,” said Lt. Cesar Jimenez of the San Diego Police Department. “The issue is that they change handles a lot.”
NBC 7 Investigates:
NBC 7 Investigates previously found more than a dozen illegal “pay-to-enter” parties promoted at real estate listings over a two-month span. Some of those events resulted in thousands of dollars in property damage.
In this case however, authorities confirmed that the gathering in Rancho Santa Fe did not take place at a vacant listing property.
The San Diego Police Department says it has forwarded evidence to the District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution of people organizing similar parties.
Law enforcement officials say homeowners can take steps to prevent their properties from being targeted, including installing security cameras and maintaining communication with neighbors to monitor unusual activity.
