Minors arrested in Rail shutdown

Commerce Police Department officers shut down The Rail Bar on the night of Saturday, Feb. 5, during the Sigma Chi event, "Hurricane," due to the discovery of underage drinking.

Red-shirted freshman football player Alan Beatty and fellow A&M-Commerce student Carlos Alberto Ruiz were arrested for minor in consumption while attending the fraternity event. Sigma Chi has given no response to the incident as of press time, but did confirm Beatty as one of their active members.

According to CPD, Det. Cpl. S.R. Scott was patrolling through the back lot of The Rail when the officer approached a group of people he thought were arguing and noticed a woman at the lot entrance lying on the ground. After Scott unsuccessfully attempted to get a response from her, he called EMS. The woman was later identified as Sulphur Springs resident Jessica Leeann Harrison. Scott reported he observed Harrison was having trouble breathing, and she was transported to Hunt Regional Hospital for treatment.

Officer N. Johnson had responded to the scene to backup Scott, and both officers entered The Rail after they discovered Harrison had been drinking underage. Inside is where they found Ruiz and Beatty.

After discovering three instances of minor in consumption on the premises, the CPD officers cleared the party out and closed The Rail for the night.

According to CPD Crime Prevention and Warrants Officer Alex Suarez, the reports have been handed over to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission for any further investigation.

For more information on this story, check theeasttexan.com at a later date or pick up the Feb. 10 print edition of The East Texan.