Associated Press
February 14, 2003
NATCHITOCHES, La. -- Northwestern State University police arrested 12 fraternity members Friday for allegedly hazing a pledge.
The Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity also has been suspended pending further investigation and the fraternity is cooperating with the probe, university spokesman David West said. Police said a fraternity pledge was beaten during initiation ceremonies on Feb. 2 and Feb. 9 at two off-campus locations.
The pledge - who has left the university - suffered bruises to his upper body but his injuries were not serious and he was not hospitalized.
Because of school policy regarding students' privacy, West said he could not confirm whether the student's withdrawal from Northwestern related directly to the alleged fraternity-related beatings.
The suspects were booked on charges of simple battery, aggravated battery and hazing, university police detective Doug Prescott said. All suspects were released on $2,000 bond.
He said there could be more arrests.
West said that under state law, the suspected students would be expelled if found guilty on criminal hazing charges.The university expects to pass along the findings of its investigation to state prosecutors soon, West said.
The fraternity does not have a house on or off campus. Its members generally live either in private residences nearby or in school housing.
The students arrested were: Terence
Vinson, 24, Felton Beaner, 22, and Brent Baily, 21, all of Shreveport; Davey
Davis, 22, of Jonesboro; Carlos Hartwell, 18, of Natchez; Devon Lockett, 22,
of Franklin; Traymain Madison, 24, Derrick Addison, 22, Reginald Harrold, 22,
and Brian Williams, 23, all of Natchitoches; and Albert
Jones, 21, and James Duplessis, 21, both of New Orleans.
