Facebook photos lead to alcohol charges

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For several months, Chilmark Police received reports of drinking parties attended by underage teens at a Welles Way residence, occupied by Beach White, 20, of Chilmark, and owned by his parents. But it was a tip about a young person’s Facebook page, with 56 photographs taken at a New Year’s Eve drinking party that provided the information needed to make an arrest.

Chilmark Police chief Brian Cioffi said that after receiving a tip he looked at the photos on the Internet and recognized the location of the party and a number of underage teens in possession of alcohol.

Shortly after police went to the house on January 4, Mr. White arrived home. Armed with a search warrant, police entered the house where they found a scale with what appeared to be traces of marijuana, and bottle of whiskey and vodka.

“Inside the barn, I estimated over one hundred beer cans and more than a dozen empty liquor bottles, both up and downstairs,” Sgt. Jonathan Klaren wrote in his police report.

Police arrested Mr. White. He was arraigned in Edgartown District Court on a charge of possession of liquor by person under age 21, and selling/delivering liquor to a person under age 21.