3 cited at Tabor ‘party house’ in Marion
Staff writers
A Marion house that’s rapidly developing a reputation for being a “party house” for Tabor College athletes was scene of another police intervention early Sunday.
Three people, all apparently athletes at Tabor, were cited for alleged violations involving underage drinking and excessive noise.
Police Chief Clinton Jeffrey was called to a house at 313 N. Cedar St. after neighbors complained.
Overhearing the call, deputy Joshua Meliza offered to back up Jeffrey, who replied “it probably wouldn’t hurt, because last time they scattered.”
He was referring to a previous police raid of a party at the house attended by several Tabor College athletes. The house appears to be owned by an out-of-state relative of one of the athletes.
Upon arrival, Jeffrey found 18 people at the party — three outside and 15 inside.
He and Meliza began checking sobriety, driver’s licenses, and license plates after Meliza radioed that several partygoers’ vehicles were parked on a neighbor’s property, and the neighbor was complaining.
As more and more of the license checks came back to Tabor College athletes, Hillsboro officer John Huebert quipped over police radio: “You got about half my campus over there.”
Jeffrey and Meliza continued to check license plates when Jeffrey radioed: “Hey, Josh, did you try to knock on the front door?”
“We’re trying to make contact with the residents of the house,” Meliza replied.
Jeffrey then asked whether deputy Kaylan Miles might be available to provide additional backup.
In the end, three partygoers were cited by the officers.
Armando Meza and Preston Pyles, both 25 and listed as being Marion residents, were issued citations for unnecessary noise and for hosting a minor who illegally was consuming alcohol.
Meza is listed on Tabor’s online football roster as Armando Meza-Casillas, a 6-foot-1, 340-pound senior offensive lineman from Salem, Oregon, who transferred from Santa Barbara City College.
Pyles is listed on Tabor’s football roster as a 6-foot, 245-pound sophomore defensive lineman from Bonner Springs.
Emma Cook, 19, of Inlet Beach Florida, was cited for underage consumption of alcohol.
Tabor’s website lists her as a 5-foot-7 freshman middle defender on the women’s soccer team, with a hometown of Las Vegas.
Their citations will be adjudicated in Marion Municipal Court.
In their previous trip to the addres, police responded in November to a call reporting a loud party. Partygoers fled as police arrived.
Xavier Sullivan, 18, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and David Darrah, 19, Wichita, were accused of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and interference with law enforcement.
Both are listed as freshmen on Tabor’s soccer team — Sullivan as a defenseman and Darrah as a forward.
The house where the parties took place was purchased a year ago by Pablo Meza, also of Salem, Oregon, who according to information posted online appears to be a relative of Armando Meza-Casillas.