Ledyard police arrest three youths for illegally camping, partying near Highland Lake
Ledyard — Police on Saturday arrested three male juveniles who they said set up a campsite and partied on town-owned property near Highland Lake.
The juveniles, ages 14, 15 and 16, all were charged with simple trespass.
The 15-year-old also was charged with driving without a license.
Police said they began targeting the area, which is situated between the Captain Amos Stanton Drive cul-de-sac and Highland Lake, after a resident complained that people who had set up a makeshift campground there were littering, playing loud music, yelling, using profanity and leaving fires unattended.
On Thursday, police said, a member of the fire marshal's office posted signs on the property prohibiting trespassing and explaining the danger of fires in wooded areas.
A day later, police found that at least one of the signs had been torn down and burnt.
According to police, when they came to the property Saturday evening, they found an unattended campfire.
Police said they were able to link the juveniles to the fire after the juveniles entered the Highland Lake parking area and allegedly admitted to having started the fire before leaving to get food.
Upon further investigation, police said they learned the 15-year-old had driven his father's vehicle to the campsite with the 16- and 14-year-old juveniles as passengers.
The three juveniles, who were released from custody to their respective parents, are scheduled to appear July 1 in the Waterford Superior Court for Juvenile Matters.
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