News Service from House Harris

VIC: Police take cover as drunken teens hurl bottles, rocks

WERRIBEE, Vic, Jan 9 AAP - Police were forced to take cover as up to 100 drunken teenagers pelted them with rocks and bottles when they tried to break up a wild party advertised on social networking website MySpace.

The father of 18-year-old Mark Marangoni, the host, blamed the police for starting the trouble but said there would be no more parties at his house in Melbourne's south-west.

Four youths were arrested and more arrests may follow after the drunken teenage party spilled into Jika Court, Werribee, about 11.30pm (AEDT).

Mark Marangoni's Myspace message read, in part, "First 100 girls and first 100 guys get in ONLY. People who come in big groups wont (sic) get in, as space will get filled up quickly. There will be security at the door $5 entry fee due to damages from previous parties".

One of the first police on the scene, Werribee Acting Sergeant Jane Boyd, said police were called to break up a fight.

The youths hurled missiles when police ordered the rowdy gathering to shut down, she said.

"They got into a large group at the end of the court and started throwing rocks and bottles," she told AAP.

A divisional van was dented as the two police units came under attack.

It was five long minutes before back-up arrived, she said.

"It was frightening, and because it's so dark you don't see the missiles being thrown at you from the shadows," she said

At least five more police cars, assisted by a dog squad unit and the police helicopter, took more than half an hour to regain control of Jika Court and several neighbouring streets.

Detectives are investigating, Sgt Boyd said.

Neighbour Nicole Webster said "at least 200 people" turned on the police.

"There was a tyre iron and a pitchfork and bricks. I just saw stuff going everywhere," she told AAP.

"I was just hiding in my garden trying to tell some of the kids to go home, telling them to nicely go away."

With bank notes visible in his short pocket, Mark's father, Imerio Marangoni, 73, said people aged between 14 and 18 had paid to attend the party.

"The people spend money, come here, pay money to enjoy," he said.

He said Mark was "upset" and had left the house on foot and blamed police for provoking party-goers.

"They come in, tell people to piss off but they were at the party to enjoy. It's (a) disaster."

"Two hundred people, all young, you can't control them when they drink."

But he said Mark, who normally lives with his mother, would not host another party at his house.

"No. No more parties. No, no."

Mark's younger brother Matteo, 16, was ordered by police to clean up the debris in the street.