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Trouble at Torch Lake: Lawsuit filed to prevent large parties

Posted at 11:47 AM, Apr 07, 2016
and last updated 2016-04-07 11:47:04-04

KALKASKA COUNTY, Mich. – A lawsuit has been filed against the alleged organizers of an annual July 4th celebration on the sandbar at Torch Lake.

The Torch Lake Protection Alliance (TLPA) filed a suit through Kalkaska County Circuit Court in late March, alleging that the party promoters caused problems for the local residents by hosting a “bash” that attracted more than 10,000 people on July 4, 2015.

It accuses Beatbox Beverages LLC, LansingParty.com, and Brooks Ehlert, who also known as “DJ Fade,” of creating a public nuisance with loud music, underage drinking and lewd behavior.

“I think last year was the tip of the iceberg,” Ehlert told FOX 17. “I think they singled us out just because we were the more prominent people involved in bringing people out there to the sandbar.”

The suit contends that the organizers did not have the proper permits to host the party, nor provided adequate security to host an event of its magnitude. Citing a Kalkaska County Sheriff’s report, the 2015 Sandbar Bash saw a temporary jail setup to accommodate several arrests made that day. Charges include, among many: 24 OWI, 42 parking citations, 53 minors in possession, 20 disorderly conduct, and 1 assault. In addition, at least 62 emergency medical calls were made, according to the same report.

The complaint can be read in its entirety here. It ultimately asks for a ban on any future Sandbar Bashes, on the grounds that they are a nuisance and violate the rights of those who live nearby.

Ehlert says they would love to have another party at the sandbar, but only if the proper permits are obtained. In the event that they’re not, he says, they’ll find another place to go instead.