Prosecutors have dropped charges against all but one of the 65 people who were arrested at a ‘Christmas Lingerie Party’.
After the mass arrests in the early hours of December 31, the district attorney’s office in Barstow County, Georgia said on Friday that evidence was insufficient to convict 64 out of 65.
‘The District Attorney’s Office has reviewed the files pertaining to the arrest of sixty-five individuals for possession of marijuana on December 31, 2017,’ the office said in a statement.
‘The review concludes the evidence is insufficient to convict sixty-four of the sixty-five charged. Accordingly, charges against those sixty-four individuals have been dismissed.’
Officials did not say which person had charges stick, or for what reason.
Around 2am on New Year’s Eve, Cartersville Police responded to a 911 call about shots fired at the home where the party was being held.
The fliers for the party promised jello shots, beer pong and ‘drunk/strip twister’
The party was held at this home in Cartersville, about 45 miles northwest of Atlanta
Deja Heard was the party’s host, and threw it as a combination Christmas and 21st birthday party for herself, according to fliers for the event.
The fliers promised jello shots, beer pong and ‘drunk/strip twister’.
Police responding to the 911 call arrived to a jam packed house.
Over scanners, police commented on how many people were on the porch, and as they walked around back they noted ‘there are quite a few people inside the house.’
Cops said that they smelled pot and saw several people trying to flee.
They were then faced with the daunting task of getting everyone who was inside the packed home outside as they started arresting people on pot charges.
Police seized three handguns, and released a photo showing what appear to be various small amounts of marijuana that were recovered from the partygoers.
Police seized three handguns, and released a photo showing what appear to be various small amounts of marijuana that were recovered from the partygoers
The NAACP complained that the mass arrests on small marijuana charges amounted to a civil rights violation.
A parent to one of those rounded up by police complained to WGRZ that had the arrests happened in Atlanta – just 40 miles to the south – the arrestees would have received a $75 ticket instead of being placed behind bars.
Attorney Gerald Griggs, a representative with the NAACP who helped defend the partygoers, told WMAZ that the district attorney’s decision to drop the charges was ‘thoughtful and effective.’
‘We also want to thank the public for voicing their [concerns] in the case,’ Griggs said.
He added that the NAACP still intends to investigate this case for ‘any and all civil rights violations’ and ‘proceed accordingly.’
Partygoers (l to r): Sammie Frazier, Timothy Booker