Yardley, Pa- www.buckslocalnews.com – Yardley Borough Police are consulting with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office to determine if there can be any criminal charges brought against the Levittown promoters of a “Playboy Bunny” party held Saturday, Feb. 19 at the Yardley Community Centre on South Main Street.

Chief James O’Neill said about 500 teenagers, age 14-18, crammed the centre which is normally used for cultural events. He said the fire code restricts the number of people who can be in the building to 140.

O’Neill said his department received several complaints about the party. When he arrived and saw the number of people in the building, he immediately evacuated the centre.

“We’re looking into what the violations of Community Centre rules are,” he said.

The police chief said the promoters held the party with “total disregard for the safety of the children that entered into the building. That’s why we are looking into whether there are criminal offenses.”

At least two juveniles are facing underage drinking citations and officials are determining if criminal charges can be brought against the Levittown promoter, whose name is being withheld because of an ongoing investigation.

He confirmed that some water bottles containing vodka were found near the centre.

“We found bottles of alcohol in the parking lots of Wawa, Borough Hall and the real estate office.

O’Neill said nothing like this has happened at the centre before where there were scantily-clad teenage girls at the centre. He was stunned when he saw a Playboy Bunny banner stretched above the centre’s stage.

“A lot of them were in Playboy Bunny costumes,” O’Neill said. “Most of the girls did not have coats on. They had bunny ears on.

“A party like this shouldn’t take place in any town,” O’Neill emphasized. “It certainly is demeaning…I am vehemently opposed to anything like this. I think it’s despicable.”

Bucks County district attorney David Heckler said the Yardley Borough Police Department is in communication with his office. He said no arrests have been made. The local police are investigating the matter.

Chief O’Neill said if any charges are brought, the district attorney’s office will prosecute for the Yardley Police Department.

Bill Moculak, president of the centre’s board of directors, said, “We feel pretty terrible about this whole thing.” He noted the board is made up of volunteers.

“We try to promote cultural events,” he said. “We sponsor Christmas and Fourth of July events, and our antiques show.”

Moculak said the centre had rented the building to a group of kids. “They made a presentation that seemed to be okay,” he said.

But, “it was totally out of control,” he said. “They blindsided us. It’s fortunate nobody was hurt. There was no damage. They were diligent in cleaning it up.”

He noted only about one or two percent of the people created a problem. “The majority of the kids seemed decent.

“We’ve changed our policy,” Moculak said. “We are not going to allow any events like this. We try to give the younger people in the community a place to socialize. It just takes a few bad apples.”

O’Neill said the promoters gave false information that the event would be a dance. “But the theme was a Playboy Bunny party,” he remarked. “For safety reasons, I stopped the event and evacuated the building.”

He said one police officer was on the scene from his department. Lower Makefield Township sent three officers on O’Neill’s request.

“The kids were orderly,” he said. “They were very respectful. There was very little problem with them.”

O’Neill emphasized that Yardley Borough is not affiliated with the community centre, and that it is a privately-owned entity.