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Boxford, Mass., police say teens created the "happy birthday" sign displayed by patrolman Brian Neely to throw them off the trail of a booze bash. Police say there was no 50th birthday celebrated at the party attended by youths ages 16 to 20, and there was no Frank.
Bruno Matarazzo Jr. / Staff Photographer

Published July 30, 2009 04:36 pm -

Birthday bash guised teen drinking party, say police


Bruno Matarazzo Jr.
CNHI News Service

BOXFORD, Mass. — Frank's 50th birthday bash is one many people won't soon forget.

Except there was no 50th birthday. Police said no one at the party was old enough to legally drink.

As for Frank, the subject of a handwritten "happy birthday" sign at the end of a driveway?

"There's no Frank," said Boxford police Lt. James Riter, whose department issued 67 court summonses after breaking up the bash. "They made it up so it wouldn't look like an underage drinking party."

Police responded to a report of a loud party at the home on a recent Sunday night.

Patrolman Robert Corliss saw the birthday sign and a number of youths milling around the street. The officer heard a commotion as he walked down the driveway.

Party attendees, police said, were scattering.

"Over fence, off into the woods, back into house, out of the gate, through the swamp, over the hills and everywhere you want to go," Riter said.



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