A Sutton man faces charges related to a deck collapse at a pool party that injured multiple people last July.
Cameron Kleinschmidt-Rouse, 21, is charged in Fillmore County Court with four counts of procuring/selling alcohol to a minor and four counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. All of the charges are class 1 misdemeanors.
On July 5, 2021, Clay County Emergency Manager Tim Lewis said multiple 911 calls were made just after midnight. Callers said a second story deck had collapsed at a home on the 200 block of Road D in Fillmore County.
Officials said a DJ working the pool party reported he was playing music when people rushed up on the deck with him. He reported it collapsed under the surge of the crowd.
This led to a mass casualty plan being activated. A total of 17 people were transported by ambulance to regional hospitals for treatment.
Lewis said Sutton Fire had to use extrication equipment to clear some of the debris from the deck to access and transport one patient. He said many others were transported in private vehicles.
Responders estimated more than 200 people were at the party.
According to a search warrant affidavit as part of the investigation dated July 23, 2021, when Fillmore County Sheriff’s Deputies arrived on scene, they located numerous individuals walking around the yard. Multiple empty bottles, beer cans and cups of liquor were located at the scene.
Deputies were eventually directed to Kleinschmidt-Rouse, who was identified as the “promoter” of the party. Kleinschmidt-Rouse reportedly told deputies that when a certain song came on, everyone at the party got on the deck and jumped until it collapsed.
Kleinschmidt-Rouse said a second male was responsible for verifying the ages of the party’s attendees and that no one under the age of 21 was to be admitted. However, in interview with the attendees, deputies determined IDs were not checked and that only seven of the 57 identified attendees who were contacted were age 21 or older.
According to the affidavit, deputies spoke with three attendees who said they were told about the party as it was “being advertised all over social media.”
In an interview with another party attendee, deputies were told entry to the party was free for female attendees and $5 for male attendees. However, for $15, attendees would have VIP access to the deck which is where free drinks and food were located. The girl told deputies this is where alcohol could be purchased.
Kleinschmidt-Rouse is scheduled to appear in Fillmore County Court for arraignment at 10 a.m. July 13.