Erwin resident cited for providing alcohol to minors

An Erwin resident was cited for providing alcohol to minors at a house party of about 45 individuals, according to officials. Hallee Casey, 24, was issued a misdemeanor citation under TCA 39-15-404 for giving or purchasing alcohol for minors; allowing for underage consumption, according to the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department. At 1:01 a.m. on Jan. 4, deputies from the Unicoi County Sheriff's Department arrived at 136 Jackson Love Circle in response to numerous reports of underage drinking. Upon arrival, deputies said they observed four individuals outside the residence, and all four began running to the back of the house once deputies arrived. Deputies said they all appeared intoxicated, and observed numerous beer cans in the yard. Three of the individuals advised deputies that they were under 21 years old. Deputies said one individual told them that they were having a house party at the residence, and she had observed numerous individuals under the age of 21 drinking alcohol. Deputies said that they then spoke to the house owner, Hallee Casey, who told them that she was throwing a party for individuals aged 18 and up. Deputies said Casey also stated that there were individuals under 21 years old who were intoxicated at her residence. Deputies said they observed about 45 individuals at the house party. Deputies said they asked Casey if she believed that what she was doing was contributing alcohol to minors, and deputies said she answered yes. Deputies said Casey told them that she had a person standing outside her home checking identification cards of guests, and there should not have been anyone under the age of 18 at her house party. Deputies said they spoke with several witnesses at the party who said they saw underage individuals drinking alcohol, with one individual providing a written statement. Deputies said they also observed numerous containers of alcohol in the house. Deputies said they conducted several traffic stops throughout the night with individuals telling them they had come from a party and had observed underage drinking. At a traffic stop, deputies said one witness showed them three Snapchat videos from the party. One video showed numerous individuals with beer cans and one individual with a bottle of liquor, with the caption "So we're all blacking out," according to officials. Deputies said other videos showed an individual pouring alcohol and an underage individual drinking. Deputies said that due to these factors and also because they had been dispatched to Casey's residence the previous night for the same complaints of underage drinking and disturbing the neighborhood, deputies issued Casey a state misdemeanor citation for TCA 39-15-404: Giving or purchasing of alcohol for minors – allowing underage consumption. Casey signed the citation to appear at 9 a.m. on Feb. 5 in the Unicoi County General Sessions Court. Chief Deputy Frank Rogers said one additional arrest was made during a traffic stop that yielded an arrest for an individual on warrants out of Sullivan County.