8 Underaged taken into Custody in Connection with Parties

Adults cited for minor in consumption; children released to parents’ custody

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. (October 20, 2020) — The Arkansas City Police Department arrested or cited five adults and took another three teenagers into custody last weekend after a pair of drinking parties.

Jennifer Renteria-Beltran, 18, and Esmerelda Solis Rodriguez, 18, both of Arkansas City, were arrested on suspicion of one misdemeanor count each of consumption or possession of alcohol by a minor, interference with a law enforcement officer and unlawfully hosting minors consuming alcohol.

They were transported to and booked into the Cowley County Jail in Winfield in lieu of $2,300 bond through Cowley County District Court in Arkansas City. Both since have posted bond and been released.

Chance Michael Daniels, 18, of Arkansas City; Angel Noele Morales, 20, of Woodward, Oklahoma; and Priscila Raquel Ramirez, 18, of Wichita, all were cited through Arkansas City Municipal Court for misdemeanor consumption or possession of alcohol by a minor. Two Ponca City, Oklahoma, juveniles, aged 15 and 16 — as well as a 17-year-old Kaw City, Oklahoma, resident — were taken into custody for alcohol violations and later released to the custody of their guardians, pending additional charges.

Officers responded at 11:49 p.m. Saturday to the 300 block of Virginia Avenue for a noise complaint.

They found a large group of underage people, some as young as 15, gathered outside a residence at that location and, while they were speaking with several individuals outside, they noted the odor of alcoholic beverages. After further investigation, Daniels was cited and released for an alcohol violation, and the two Ponca City juveniles were taken into custody and later released, as well.

Officers attempted to contact the residents of the home, who did not respond. They applied for and executed a search warrant for the home, where evidence of an underage alcohol party was gathered.

Renteria-Beltran and Solis-Rodriguez both were subsequently arrested for alcohol violations, and the Kaw City juvenile was taken into custody and later released.

In an unrelated incident, officers responded around 3:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of possible underage drinking in the 1400 block of West Fifth Avenue.

During the investigation into this incident, which actually occurred in the 1400 block of West Chestnut Avenue, Morales and Ramirez both were cited and released for alcohol violations.

A defendant’s guilt or innocence is to be determined by a court of law.