Homeowner facing charges for pool party

The Birmingham homeowner who rented out his home on Westchester Way in mid-June where an advertised pool party drew a couple hundred persons is now facing six misdemeanor charges in district court, along with the person who rented the home and organized the party who is facing two charges.

The homeowner, Alexander Simpson, age 42, was charged in 48th district court with disturbing the peace, violating the city noise ordinance, creating a public nuisance, gathering of disorderly persons and violating an ordinance regulating private pool use.

Each of the ordinance violations are considered misdemeanors and carry fines of $500 or up to 90 days in jail or both.

The person who rented the home was Rodney Harrington, age 27, according to court documents. He is being charged with violating the city noise ordinance and gathering of disorderly persons.

Bonds for each of the individual charges for both Simpson and Harrington were set at $1,000.

The raucous pool party resulted in vehicles blocking the streets and out-of-bounds behavior that included party attendants dancing on vehicles. The incident has also spurred the city to begin a review of its ordinances regulating short-term rentals of property.

According to city officials, the police department and comments from neighboring homeowners who attended a June 17 joint city commission-planning board meeting, a crowd of approximately 200 persons attended a pool party at the Westchester address which had been rented out. The pool had been advertised for rent on a pool-rental online platform and a promoter reportedly organized the event. Police officials said that security personnel were at the house and checked those entering for weapons. Those attending the party were charged an admission fee.

Birmingham Police Department officials say that officers were first dispatched to the home at 4 p.m. and returned five more times to the site after the initial visit. Noise level readings were taken at each visit and at 8:30 p.m. a decision was made to shut the party down. In weeks following the party, the police department has admitted that the party should have been shut down earlier.

Simpson, an attorney, is an alternative hearing officer with the city, handling disputes over fees charged by the city to residents, but officials have rejected claims that he received any special treatment due to his connection with the city.

Both Simpson and Harrington are scheduled for pre-trial hearings on August 12 before judge Diane D’Agostini.