BLACKSBURG, Va. ― Blacksburg police said they have reopened a criminal investigation into hazing allegations against Virginia Tech’s first Black Greek organization after new information was turned over by the university.
Police had already conducted an investigation into the incident involving the Theta Iota chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and decided not to bring charges. But police investigators have decided to reopen the case after obtaining new information from the university, which held its own hearings on the matter.
Citing emails obtained through the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, The Roanoke Times reported that the university failed to notify the county prosecutor ― as required by state law ― of the findings of its investigation for two months. Tech completed its investigation in April and barred the fraternity from campus for 10 years.
A pledge told the fraternity’s national office that he was hospitalized and had to withdrawal from school after being blindfolded and beaten last January. He said he and other students were picked up from a university parking lot, blindfolded and taken elsewhere. The pledges were asked about the fraternity’s history and attacked when they got a question wrong, he said. He said the hazing occurred for several hours and was repeated over several days. Five other pledges backed his statement.
Blacksburg police spokesman Mike Albert said further details cannot be released because the case is now active again.
