A group of 14 teenagers were arrested in Mountain View this week after throwing a series of drug- and alcohol-fueled parties at an unoccupied home in an upscale neighborhood. After two consecutive weekends of partying, the revelry came to an end when a fire set inside the home burned out of control.

The fire on the 1700 Block of Fordham was spotted by a neighbor driving some friends home around 1:30 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, March 16th. At the time, fire investigators noticed a 2003 Audi A4 had gone missing from the driveway and suspected the fire was set during a burglary.

After an investigation by a Santa Clara fire task force, the ATF and Mountain View Police, authorities learned that a group of local teens and a few college kids had thrown a partyat the home the week before. The house was vacant while the owners were on a lengthy vacation. On the morning of the 16th, during the second house party, three juvenile suspects started a fire they couldn't put out.

According to Mountain View Police, the suspects were twelve juveniles and two 18-year-olds, who were all arrested on charges ranging from arson, burglary, car theft, drug possession and drug sale. The two 18-year-old suspects, Brandon Pak and Gilbert Gomes were also arrested on suspicion of child endangerment. Police expect more arrests to follow, as suburban teens have been known to rat out their pals in order to preserve their college admission status. Mountain View Police are also wondering why no one on the block of million-dollar homes called to report a party with at least 14 teens coming and going. In the meantime, the local CBS affiliate carries the tsk-tsk news report:


The investigation is still ongoing and anyone with any information about the weekly teen ragers should contact Mountain View PD at (650) 903-6344, or text an anonymous tip to 274637 with “mvtips” in the message.

Previously: Teen LSD Party In Mill Valley Turns Into Marin County Blood Ritual
All deplorable teens coverage on SFist.
[Chron]
[NBC Bay Area]
[CBS5]