An out-of-control Halloween party attended by more than 100 teenagers Saturday night took place at the Garfield Township home of Laura Oblinger, a candidate for Northwestern Michigan College (NMC) Trustee in Tuesday’s election. Five teens were issued Minor In Possession (MIP) charges, two of whom were also charged with Resisting And Obstructing, and one of whom is facing those charges plus Assaulting A Police Officer. Potential charges against Oblinger as the homeowner are under review by the prosecutor. 

In a lengthy interview with The Ticker, Oblinger says she takes responsibility for hosting the event, noting she first learned her daughter had invited people on Snapchat and she subsequently decided to work with her daughter, parents of other children, neighbors and the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office to attempt to host a safe outdoor party for teens on her two-acre property on Harris Road. 

“We thought, ‘what if we hosted a costume party for 20-30 kids outside, and my husband and I would be home.' So we notified some parents and neighbors and proactively called the sheriff’s office.” Though the party began outside and harmlessly with a small group, Oblinger says “things quickly got out of control,” as the sheriff’s office called to say there were more social media posts encouraging people to join “a raging party,” while “all hell broke loose in my home when I opened the downstairs door to a cloud of smoke and found probably 50 kids in addition to those outside who had alcohol and marijuana.” 

Sheriff’s deputies who soon arrived, according to Oblinger, “were so calm, even as many of these intoxicated teens were swearing and saying they’d spit on the officers.” 

Oblinger continues, "This got out of control on my property. This is not a case of [alcohol] supplied to minors. We supplied nothing. But I am very disappointed in myself for trying. And God no, obviously I wouldn’t do it again. Social media is a problem for me as an adult: These kids have a tool I don’t understand. I was way out of my league. Laura Oblinger needs to take the responsibility that I tried to have a safe gathering here and it didn’t work. I thought I was being smart by bringing the police into it and posting my number with police and contacting neighbors and parents, at every step getting confirmation that 'you’re doing the right thing.' I thought I was ok.”

Regarding potential charges against her, she adds, "I will respect whatever needs to be pursued because what kids brought to my home. I supplied nothing. I made the wrong decision about how many red flags I ignored. I respect the process and it’s up to the prosecutor. I will defend what we did right and share what we did wrong."

Oblinger’s 14-year-old daughter was not one of those charged. 

With regard to her candidacy for NMC Trustee, Oblinger says, "If the election falls apart on me, it falls apart on me. I have every ability to run and hold that position. I have the integrity to hold that position, but I had some bad judgment. So has everyone else. I am proud of who I am and I will serve to the same level that I said I would serve. The point is so much bigger; these kids need help."

Law enforcement has observed an uptick in parties among minors, which represent not only the inherent risks involving alcohol and drugs, but now the added risks associated with large gatherings amidst the pandemic.

Sheriff’s deputies also broke up a party Saturday night in Green Lake Township, where MIP citations were also issued.