By Clyde Noel

Few signs of last month’s out-of-control rental party that thrashed the historic American Legion building in downtown Los Altos remained visible last week.

Legion members have spent hours cleaning up the mess that the 60 or so party-goers allegedly left behind.

Past Commander Bill Goss said boisterous birthday party guests tore pipes out of the wall, pulled out doorstops, spilled margaritas on the newly installed floor, ripped sinks out of the walls and broke the plumbing in the kitchen.

Goss said the Legion kept the $250 cleaning deposit, but it won’t cover all of the repair costs.

Asked if the Legion would press charges to recover the costs of repair, Goss said it’s a community facility and they will not go after remuneration.

The American Legion Post 558 Hall on First Street is regularly rented out for community events. Los Altos police said last month’s event was the first time there have been any problems reported at the hall.

A Redwood City woman rented the 200-person capacity hall for a birthday party.

Police were called to the hall at around 11 p.m., June 23, when someone reported that a 25-year-old man at the birthday party threatened to kill another guest.

Police arrested the man in the hall for assault with a deadly weapon, making threats and for violation of parole from prior narcotics offenses.

He was placed in custody at Santa Clara County Jail and no bail allowed at the time of arrest.