Police of Charlotte-Mecklenburg have arrested six members from JCSU’s undergraduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. On January 29.
Police received information from Novant Presbyterian Hospital, on an unidentified patient whose injuries were consistent with hazing. All six members have been detained and charged with hazing.
The patient told police that he had met with all five members of the Rho chapter, over a period of 3 months, at different locations on and off of JCSU campus.
Suspects Edward Droshon, Clifton Kyle Gregg, Nickolas Duran Hayden, Touangaheofa J.Langi, and Patrick Joseph Philogene have all been taken into custody, The sixth suspect Carlton Richardson turned himself in that Thursday night. He is now out on bail according to WCCB Charlotte.
The patient alleges that he was hit with paddles during those three months and has suffered severe injuries as a result.
Johnson C Smith University has suspended the organization from its campus and released this statement:
“Johnson C. Smith University is committed to ensuring the safety, health and well-being of our students. We take all allegations of hazing very seriously, and we have been conducting an internal investigation in addition to cooperating with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department in its investigation. Hazing is not aligned with the ideals and principles of higher education or Johnson C. Smith University. Therefore, it has no place on our campus, and the University has a zero tolerance for hazing in academic life, student life or athletics.
The University sent a cease and desist order to Rho Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., for all activities, and the organization has been suspended from campus. Additionally, the Sixth District of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. has issued a notice of interim suspension to Rho Chapter of the fraternity. We will continue our internal investigation, and all students involved will face the University’s judicial process.
JCSU will remain steadfast in our lack of tolerance for hazing, and we will continue to emphasize our campus-wide education efforts to ensure that all students are aware of and abide by the anti-hazing policy in our Student Handbook.”
