Nobody needed invitations': 180 charged with underage drinking at college frat 'open party

NEWARK, Del. (TheBlaze/AP) -- Authorities have charged 180 people with underage drinking at an unofficial fraternity party near the University of Delaware.

Local media outlets report that Saturday, Newark Police and other law enforcement agencies joined forces to charge people attending the party at a house near campus.

Image source: KWY-TV

“In a normal party complaint, we show up, try to identify the residents and everybody else puts down their beers and leaves,” police spokesman Lt. Bill Hargrove told the Newark Post. “With this, [the warrant] specifies that we will corral everyone and hold them.”

Police say about 200 people showed up at the party, and that alcohol was being freely distributed to guests, many of whom were younger than 21.

“It was an open party; nobody needed invitations,” Hargrove said. “We just walked right in and weren’t challenged," Hargrove said, adding that permits are required for gatherings of 150 people or more.

Hargrove says the hosts of the party, who haven't been named, are likely to face additional charges. Police say the hosts are members of an unsanctioned fraternity called APES.

One person was found unresponsive inside the house and was taken to Christiana Hospital for an alcohol overdose. The person was treated and released.

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