HOUSTON (FOX 26) -
Social media helped promote a massive teen party planned in northeast Harris County, but before more than 4,000 partygoers showed up the Harris County Sheriff's deputies shut it down.
It's the type of story we've reported a number times. YouTube videos prove what exactly goes on at these massive parties, including underage drinking, drugs and thousands of young faces. This time around, law enforcement got the invite off Twitter.
HCSO Media Relations Director Christina Garza said an anonymous tip led to the arrest of three people:
-- Shawn and Deshawn Butler, 19-year-old twins
-- A juvenile
The three are charged with criminal trespassing. They are accused of promoting a "ranch party". Investigators went straight to the place where it was supposed to be held.
"Once we found out the location, we contacted the property owner," Garza said. "Did this person know what was going on? In this case, no."
When they arrived at the property, the three had broken a secured lock, allowing anyone entrance onto the private property, Garza said.
The size of the event plus the high chance of illegal activity can quickly escalate into a public safety concern. In April, a Surfside beach party turned deadly.
Given the turnout for some of these parties, the promotion work does work. In this case, it worked for the sheriff's office too.
