Politics & Government

Midway Beach Family Decries 'Jersey Shore' Atmosphere On Fourth Lane

Man questions police response over Memorial Day weekend

They came for rest and relaxation. They didn't get it.

A family who owns a home on Fourth Lane in Midway Beach in South Seaside Park came to the June 12 Township Council meeting to voice their concerns about rowdy underage drinkers who partied more than 12 hours one day over Memorial Day weekend.

"We will continue to call the police and regrettably make a nuisance of ourselves," said William Wynne, whose wife's family has owned a bungalow in Midway Beach since 1995.

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Wynne said problems began on May 27 of Memorial Day weekend, when a dozen out-of-state young people piled into a nearby bungalow and began to party around 1 p.m.

"We listened to them brag about how they intended to enjoy a "Jersey Shore" weekend," Wynne said, a reference to the MTV show filmed in nearby Seaside Heights. "They intended to follow in the footsteps of their heroes, Snooki, the Situation..."

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The youths also bragged about obtaining liquor even though they were underage and obtaining fake I.D.s, Wynne said.

Wynne said he first called police at 1:20 a.m. It took an officer 40 minutes to arrive, he said.

"He asked them to turn down the radio," Wynne said.

The noise and drinking resumed as soon as the officer left, so he placed a second call.

"They did not check for I.D.s," Wynne said. "Then they came to my mother-in-laws' house and knocked on the door and said 'We've addressed the issue.' The lack of anonymity placed my mother-in-law at risk."

Some of the permanent Midway Beach homeowners don't even come down on holiday weekends, he said.

"We don't want to have a Seaside Heights situation," Wynne said. "The people who live in Midway Beach do so for a reason — because it's a family community."

Township Attorney Lauren Staiger said she would have to check to see if underage drinking on private property in Berkeley is a violation.

"It may not be in the code," she said.

Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. said he would discuss the matter with Police Chief Karin T. DiMichele today and also planned to ask for the police log of the incidents.

Wynne also said the property in question was a rental property and was littered with beer cans and garbage after the group left.

Amato said he would have township Code Enforcement Official Kenneth Anderson investigate. He suggested the family also use the anonymous "tip line" on the township website to report any additional problems.

Councilwoman Judy Noonan also suggested the family check into the homeowner's associations by-laws.

"You do have the power of an association," she said.


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