Excise Officers Arrest 37 in Terre Haute - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Indiana State Excise Police officers arrested 37 people on 53 charges on and around the Indiana State University campus this weekend.

On Friday and Saturday, excise officers arrested 29 minors - including three 17 year olds - for illegal consumption or possession of alcohol. Two minors were arrested for public intoxication. Two people were charged with possession of false identification and one person was also arrested for minor in tavern.

Eight adults were arrested for furnishing alcohol to a minor or aiding a minor to possess alcohol. Five juveniles were also cited for possession of tobacco. Officers also issued six traffic tickets.

At 1:15 a.m. Saturday morning, a 20-year-old Owensville, Ind., woman was arrested for illegal consumption, minor in tavern, public intoxication, false statement of age and possession of false identification after excise officers saw her use a false Illinois driver's license to get into Ballyhoo Tavern, 900 Chestnut Street. She had difficulty speaking and forming coherent sentences and tested .205% BAC on a portable breath test.

At 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning, a 20-year-old Indianapolis woman was arrested for illegal consumption and public intoxication after excise officers saw her having difficulty walking at 6th and Elm. A 22-year-old man from Santa Claus, Ind., who said he just met her, was attempting to hold her up. She was unable to answer basic questions coherently and tested .235% BAC on a portable breath test.

This weekend's enforcement efforts in Terre Haute are part of the Intensified College Enforcement, or ICE, initiative - itself part of a multi-year effort by the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission to reduce underage drinking. The ICE initiative follows other programs by the ATC aimed at underage access to and use of alcoholic beverages.

"Excise officers continue to encounter young adults with dangerously high blood alcohol levels, which emphasizes the importance of the college enforcement details," Superintendent Matt Strittmatter said.