Early last month I was standing in my kitchen when I saw a group of 5 or 6 kids standing on the sidewalk outside my house, one of whom was carrying a bottle of Bacardi liquor. I then saw a De Pere Police squad car pull up near them on the road, and the group of kids ran. Some of the kids ran through my yard in an attempt to evade the police. I then left my house and went to talk to the police officer to tell him what I had just seen.
I wanted to assist him, but he began questioning me as if I was a criminal. He asked who the kids were, why the were running, etc. I kept telling him that I had seen it but did not know where they were. Eventually the police officer called for assisting officers, and he personally chased and apprehended a 20-year-old in my neighbor's yard. This kid registered a. 17 on a BAC.
I was then contacted (in my driveway) by a Sergeant in the police department. His questions were even more to the point ("Why were you serving underagers?" "Are there more underagers in your house?" etc.).instead of answering his questions, I kept asking if he was detaining me.
He eventually did detain me for "serving underagers." He searched me (and found nothing suspicious) and then placed me in the back of his squad car. I was in the squad car without handcuffs.
He eventually cited me for Procuring/Selling/Furnishing to Underagers-1st Offense. He told me that "people have admitted to drinking at [my] house."
I received the police report several days later.in it, the police claim that "Officer [2] stopped a vehicle with three occupants, all who told him they were drinking at [my] residence. All three of the occupants were cited for Underage Consumption of Intoxicants." No where in the report are these people named, there is no indication of where they were pulled over or even why the were pulled over. The officer who issued these citations did not file a supplemental narrative.
I am truly innocent of this charge (Serving to Underagers), but I'm not sure how to prove it. The police say that random, unnamed people told them that they were drinking at my house.
So far, I've compiled a copy of my last cell phone bill, a printout of emails sent during that period, my Facebook communications and events, and my Twitter updates. I'm planning on giving all of these things to the prosecutor to try to prove that I've never contacted these "underagers" and that I've never known them at all. Also, there are several houses near mine which do routinely have parties. I'm not sure how to convince the prosecutor that one of these other houses was likely responsible.
However, the Police can pretty much say anything here. How do I prove my innocence in this case? I have my court appearance approaching, and any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
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