Drinking bout in Lacey Township hospitalizes teen, charges pending

A 14-year-old girl found unconscious and intoxicated in a Forked River home Halloween night might result in formal charges, according to Lacey Township police.

It's one of two bizarre weekend underage-drinking escapades reported on the Lacey Police Facebook page. The other involved six teens in a car - including one in the trunk - only two hours later.

Officers John McKee and Michael Verwey, responding to a report of an unconscious girl on Sentinel Drive at 10:28 PM on October 31 called for paramedics.

The technicians treated her for extreme intoxication before transporting her to Community Medical Center in Toms River, police said.

The home owner claimed to be unaware that a group of teens were drinking in the house, police said. The patient's parents met her at the hospital. The incident is still under investigation.

Just after midnight, Verwey stopped a car that was tooling along with no headlamps lit on Stoney Point Drive.

Inside were six juveniles, including one in the trunk, police said. The five passengers were issued complaints for underage alcohol consumption and possession of open containers.

The 17-year-old driver is charged iwth driving under the influence, reckless driving, operating without headlights, and having an open container of alcohol in the car.

All six were released to their parents