Prom night ends badly for 50 teens as Kemah police find alcohol on charter buses

Jacob Shears, charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor Jacob Shears, charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor Photo: Kemah Police Photo: Kemah Police Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Prom night ends badly for 50 teens as Kemah police find alcohol on charter buses 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

They took the time to get all suited and booted for prom night Saturday, but for 50 teens in Kemah, the celebration ended with three and half hours at the local fire station.

Dozens of high school celebrants were caught red-handed boozing on their charter buses as they arrived at the boardwalk town to commemorate their rite of passage, according to the Kemah Police Department.

Officials were first called to one chartered prom bus from Orange when a student fell ill with a problem unrelated to drinking.

Police said when medics arrived it was obvious a serious party had been happening on board.

"You could smell the alcohol pouring out of the bus," said Kemah Police Chief Greg Rikard.

As 30-35 teens were rounded up from that bus, a second bus from Lake Jackson was reported to police by Boardwalk security, leading to a similar find and 15 more allegedly drunken teens.

"Some had not been drinking but a large portion had. We could have given out 50 tickets that night," said Rikard who noted that there were numorous bottles of alcohol on board.

Only one girl was arrested, 17-year-old Ashley Meadows, who officers said was thrown in a cell to sober up after being belligerent.

The drivers of both buses were also arrested, as they were the only adults present, and charged with furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Kemah police said both drivers claimed they didn't know what was going on but officers allege that would be impossible because the smell of alcohol was so strong.

Back at the fire station, the high schoolers were left to call their parents for a ride home with reports suggesting some had to come from as far away as Beaumont to collect them.

Kemah police reported a somber scene. "There was no partying in the fire station, everyone wanted to get on with their evening," said Rikard.

In true teenage style, getting on with the evening did happen to include a quick selfie from the scene. It was posted to Instagram the same night.