Halloween is supposed to be a time of fun. Kids go trick-or-treating and hang out with their friends. And some adults have fun of their own, dressing up and throwing house parties. What started out as a fun Halloween night ended in handcuffs for Florida mom Audrey Mahaney. During a Halloween party at her home, teens were allegedly able to get alcohol and began getting rowdy. Apparently this wasn’t the first time something like this has happened, so when things got too out of control, her neighbors called police. Now, the mom is facing charges.
On Halloween night, officers from the Port St. Lucie Police Department responded to complaints from neighbors about a large party happening, WPEC reported. According to those in the neighborhood, large groups of minors were gathering and being loud.
“Around 8:30 hordes and hordes of teenagers were coming by and it was just, the cars up and down the street. It was not something that I expected to see in this neighborhood,” neighbor Michael Weissberger told the outlet.
The minors were seen going in and out of the home of 41-year-old Audrey Mahaney. They also were hanging out on the lawn, and empty bottles of alcohol could be seen.
Around the same time police showed up at Mahaney’s home, the Department of Children and Family Services also arrived. The woman is allegedly known for allowing parties at her house where minors are drinking, which is what the department was investigating.
“There was a party there maybe about a month ago, similar situation, lots of kids, cars up and down the street, and empty bottles. I’d be fine if somebody had a party. I’m absolutely, that’s fine if you have a party but keep it in your house, not where it took over the entire neighborhood,” Weissberger shared.
“Contact was made with Mahaney who was having her own gathering with her adult friends in the home for Halloween but allowed her two minor children to have their own guests,” Port St. Lucie Police noted in a post on Facebook. “During the course of the investigation, it was obvious there was a lack of adult supervision and failed to monitor the teen’s activities or safety to prevent underage alcohol consumption.”
The police department added that it is “not only holding minors accountable for their actions like we’ve posted on this weekend but also parents.”
Weissberger also told WPEC: “My biggest fear is people getting in a car and driving. You know, we walk up and down the street here and people walk their dogs and just even outside of the neighborhood, it’s just that’s the danger. Drinking and driving to me is definitely something that’s dangerous.”
Based on their investigation, police established that they had probable cause to arrest Mahaney on a charge of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
