There were decorations. There was music. There were fire pits. And there was a copious amount of alcohol.

Barrington Police said dozens of local teenagers attended a large Halloween party in a wooded area in town on Saturday night, Oct. 29. Police received an anonymous tip that about 40 or 50 teenagers were partying deep in the woods behind the Barrington Post Office. 

Officers responded to that area at about 8:10 p.m., and discovered an elaborate set-up. Police said Halloween decorations had been set up in the woods, and there was music playing. Police also spotted fire pits burning.

When the teenagers caught sight of the police officers, they quickly fled the scene. Police said they were able to detain nine teenagers. They also said the crowd was probably a bit larger than 40 to 50 individuals. 

“There were 50 to 60 juveniles in costumes,” said Barrington Police Chief Michael Correia. He added that there were also beer pong tables set up in the woods. 

Chief Correia said officers also located a large amount of alcohol at the party — numerous 30-packs of beer, cases of hard seltzer drinks, dozens of alcohol nips, a half-consumed bottle of tequila.

“It’s a concern,” Chief Correia said. “It reinforces to me, as the police chief, that we still need to be vigilant. It’s not just a problem in this town, but there’s a tragic history in this town, and the police department has to be vigilant.”

Chief Correia referenced teenagers killed in alcohol-related tragedies in Barrington in the past. 

“You can’t lose track of that,” he said. “You can’t forget about that.”

Chief Correia said it was important to focus on the work that former Barrington Police Chiefs John LaCross and Dino DiCrescenzo committed the department to completing. 

“You have to continue that,” he said. 

Police charged one 16-year-old Barrington boy with possession of an alcoholic beverage by an underage person-first offense. They also contacted the parents of all nine teenagers taken into custody at the party. 

“You want to make sure that all the juveniles… that they’re safe,” Chief Correia said. “But when they flee like that, there’s no way to corral them.”