Police in Girard, Ohio have had to place one of their own on administration leave after four teenagers and four young adults were arrested for underage drinking in the officer's garage. Empty beer cans and traces of marijuana were found in the garage upon investigation.

The Girard Chief of Police told reporters that four, possibly five, 18-year-olds will face misdemeanor charges, and that four juveniles teenagers will face charges in juvenile court.

The officer who owns the home on Mosier Road in Girard will remain on leave until a disciplinary hearing is conducted. The officer is not yet being charged with any crimes, although neighbors have been complaining about the garage parties to police since last summer.

Underage drinking is a serious problem in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. For a police officer to allow juveniles and underage adults to drink and smoke marijuana in his garage may be unforgiveable. What's more troubling, however, are the recent stories we've heard from around the region of teens and college-age kids getting into accidents, committing unthinkable acts at parties, fighting, and dying from alcohol abuse and hypothermia.

Many parents' excuse is that they can't stop their kids from drinking, so they would rather have them drink in their own homes or somewhere else on the property. This is not only illegal, but it can lead to the horrible things mentioned above, as well as arrests, jail time, and marks on a young adult's permanent record.

Source: WFMJ, "Girard police charge adults and teens for underage drinking parties" 19 February 2014