June 20,
2008
Richmond Register
June 20, 2008
Hazing suspects: 3 warrants issued
By Bill Robinson
Register News Writer
After three months of investigation, police have obtained arrest warrants for three Richmond men wanted in connection with the alleged illegal hazing of fraternity candidate.
The three are: Thomas Barnes, 21, of 140 Maple Hill Drive, Gabriel M. McLaren, 22, of 633 Big Hill Ave., and Alonzo C. McGill, 32, 1093 Merrick Drive.
At the time of the incidents, Barnes and McLaren were student members of Kappa Alpha Psi at Eastern Kentucky. McGill is an alumnus of the fraternity, according to Sgt. Willard Reardon, spokesperson for the Richmond Police Department.
All three are to be charged fourth-degree assault, a Class A misdemeanor, he said. If convicted, they could face a sentence of up to one year in jail.
Barnes was arrested Wednesday.
A Madison County Detention Center spokesperson said Friday that Barnes had been released on his own recognizance. Friday afternoon, police were searching for the other two, Reardon said. Anyone with information on their whereabouts should call the Richmond police at 623-8911.
Investigators, led by Detective B.J. O’Donnell, obtained the warrants after consulting with the county attorney and commonwealth’s attorney, Reardon said.
Brent Whiteside, 23, an EKU junior who was a fraternity membership candidate, filed a complaint March 25 alleging the three suspects struck him a paddle, cane and fists, causing blunt force trauma resulting in renal failure, Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock said in late March.
"The complaint alleges that from late January to early March, the victim was assaulted at numerous locations within the city,” the chief said.
Whiteside was reportedly hospitalized for treatment of his injuries. Police had no information Friday about his current condition.
“It is our understanding that everything was done under the umbrella of the fraternity,” Brock said.
The allegations were reported to the university March 8, and Kappa Alpha Psi
was placed on immediate suspension both by EKU and the national chapter, said
Dr. Mike Reagle, associate vice president for student affairs.
