Cops called to another Boca party

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Another rowdy high school homecoming party in Boca Raton ended with police arresting two parents and several teens over the weekend.

Ingrid Paolino, 45, and Paul Paolino, 51, both face a misdemeanor charge of allowing minors to drink alcohol at an open house party early Sunday at their home in the 2800 block of Spanish River Road, according to a Boca Raton police arrest report. Around 50 party guests were reportedly students from Boca Raton High School.

The couple's arrest comes exactly one week after two other Boca Raton parents were detained during a homecoming party at their mansion in The Sanctuary community. Hundreds of teenagers arrived on charter buses and were found drinking, drunk, sick or passed out, police said.

The party scene on Sunday was more subdued, police said. Around 1 a.m., an anonymous caller told police a fight broke out at the house along the Intracoastal Waterway. The $1.6-million home is located in the upscale Spanish River Land community, according to records from Palm Beach County Property Appraiser's Office.

When police arrived, two girls sitting in the driveway refused to open the gate for them, the report said. The three officers ended up jumping over the gate anyway and asked the girls to get their parents. They again refused. As police handcuffed one of them, the Paolinos came outside to intervene.

The two said they owned the house and were hosting the party. Then they all walked to the backyard, where police reportedly found a keg, a case of beer and scattered cups of alcohol. Dozens of teens were hiding inside the house when they went in. None who spoke to police were 21 or older. No one appeared to be hurt.

One teen spotted holding a beer was arrested. Charles Kowanetz, 18, told authorities the party was for seniors at Boca Raton High School, who were celebrating homecoming. He said underage guests could buy wristbands to drink from the beer keg. The Paolinos knew about the party, he said, and they knew the teens were drinking alcohol.

At that point, police arrested the party hosts.

"What am I supposed to do? If they don't drink here they will drink somewhere else," Paul Paolino told police, according to the report.

Police issued citations to the parents, Kowanetz and the two girls accused of obstructing their investigation. All were given court dates and released.

Paul and Ingrid Paolino could not be reached for comment despite two attempts by phone.

Paul Paolino has been arrested in Palm Beach County at least ten times since 2001 on shoplifting and retail theft charges, state records show. In most cases, adjudication was withheld. Some charges were dropped. In June 2009 he was found guilty of retail theft.

Ingrid Paolino has no criminal history in Florida, according to state records.

Staff researcher Barbara Hijek contributed to this report.

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