Two homeowners in Gloucester Township are facing local ordinance violations after hosting what were described as for-profit parties that sparked disruption and prompted multiple police reports on July 20.
According to township police, officers were first dispatched around 9:20 p.m. to Vance Avenue in Sicklerville, where about 300 people had gathered in the backyard of a private residence. Officers at the scene observed individuals charging admission at the home’s entrance and recovered a flyer promoting the event as a paid party.
As attendees began to leave, police said, large crowds entered Vance Avenue, blocking traffic, discarding trash and creating a public disturbance that took police nearly 90 minutes to resolve.
At about 10:33 p.m. the same evening, police responded to a second incident on Andrea Court, just blocks from Vance, where they said multiple people from the earlier party had congregated. Police say a fight broke out on Andrea and a vehicle struck a parked car. A crowd reportedly attempted to assault the driver and threw a liquor bottle at the vehicle, shattering the rear window, police said.
The disturbance escalated as the group moved to a nearby Wawa, forcing the store to temporarily close while officers dispersed the crowd, according to police reports.
Homeowners Devida Bailey, 52, of Vance Avenue, and Diamond Jones, 39, of Andrea Court, were issued local ordinance citations for creating a a nuisance. Other party organizers at both locations were also cited.
The investigation remains active, and additional charges are being considered, including potential zoning and code violations and unlawful commercial use of residential properties. The township’s Public Works Litter Patrol was dispatched to the neighborhoods a day after the incidents to clean up.
Township officials and law enforcement are urging residents not to host large, for-profit gatherings in residential neighborhoods.
“These types of events pose serious safety hazards, violate multiple state, local and zoning ordinances, and disrupt the quality of life for our residents,” the police department said in a statement. “We will investigate and prosecute all such incidents to the fullest extent.”
Police are asking anyone with information on the incidents to submit tips anonymously through the department’s tip portal at gtpolice.com/tips, by calling the anonymous tip line at (856) 842-5560 or by texting TIPGLOTWPPD, followed by a message to 888777.
