COHASSETT, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Cohasset Police issued fines to two homeowners Friday night, after more than a dozen minors were found at a large gathering at their residence, in violation of state guidelines during the pandemic.
At approximately 11 p.m., Cohasset Police responded to numerous reports of the gathering a home on Jerusalem Road.
When they arrived, officers saw a gathering of "approximately 20 underage youths," who were allegedly disregarding state-mandated social distancing and face covering protocols inside an enclosed small structure on the property. Police said open containers were found throughout the structure as well.
While officers were at the scene, they said several of the individuals began to flee into a nearby wooded area. Police attempted to identify those who remained, and contacted each of the juvenile’s parents to make arrangements to pick up their children.
Police also located two adults inside the main home, and identified them as the homeowners. Cohasset Police, in conjunction with the Cohasset Board of Health, issued the homeowners a $500 citation for violation of Gov. Charlie Baker’s COVID-19 Order exceeding the 10-person limit regarding indoor gatherings.
CPD said the Cohasset School District has also been notified, and is taking immediate steps to protect students and staff from possible exposure to COVID-19.
"Our department's top priority is to keep our residents safe," Chief Quigly said. "We can not stress enough the importance of residents, especially our youths, adhering to public health guidance. All youths should be practicing social distancing and not attending any large gatherings."
According to the state Department of Public Health, most of new coronavirus cases reported during the last two weeks of October were in people aged 0-19 years.
Gov. Baker urged Massachusetts residents Friday to avoid any social gatherings outside of their immediate family, as the state continues to see a spike in COVID-19 cases.
"Every single person in Massachusetts needs to appreciate the significance of their role in dealing with the spread of this virus," Baker said. "People need to change their behavior and get serious about who they spend time with, how they act, and why Massachusetts is at risk primarily because of a lot of the things people do when they put down their guard."
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