Arrest report: Delta Tau Delta pledges subjected to ritualistic hazing, ridicule, physical abuse

Karl Etters | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Fraternity tied to decades of deaths at the hands of hazing Fraternities have announced sweeping changes in recent years, but families of young men who have died in hazing-related incidents say it's not enough.

In September, 45 pledges to Florida State University’s Delta Tau Delta fraternity were filed into a dim, candle-lit house and subjected to ritualistic hazing that police say included mental and physical abuse.

Now, four Tallahassee college students, including the president and treasurer of the suspended fraternity, are facing misdemeanor hazing charges after their arrest on Monday night.

The frat’s president Omeed Farajzadeh, 22, its treasurer, 21-year-old Zachary Bernstein, as well as Kiahlin Redish, 25, and Brett Pittman, 21, were charged Monday with hazing that created a substantial risk of physical injury or death. Redish has been registered at Tallahassee Community College since May 2018 and was expected to transfer to FSU during the Spring 2020 semester.

Florida State University Police Department officers interviewed the fraternity pledges in late October after each was issued a subpoena. The scene described to investigators resembled the fraternity hijinks seen in movies, but quickly escalated into what police say was hazing.

The incident took place at the Delta Tau house at 318 S. Copeland Street on Sept. 22, with each pledge wearing the “pledge attire” of a navy blazer, white oxford shirt, khaki pants, brown shoes and a red tie.

The pledges gave up their cell phones and were filed into the house, which was dimly lit with candles while fraternity members hummed. They were surrounded by members of the executive board at the front of the group in a large U shape.

Redish sat in a lounge chair atop a table and was addressed by “Sir,” according to every pledge’s account of the incident.

Pledges were forced to kneel for 45 minutes to two hours before a list of grievances were brought in which individual pledges were made an example of for things they had done during previous parties or what was found on their phone as pledges.

At least three people were brought forward before Redish. Two pledges – one of whom was admonished because he sent a photo of himself in pledge attire to his mother – were slammed to the ground. One pledge was slapped and another was roughed up.

Afterward, pledges were pushed to the ground. Brothers balanced beer cans on them while their neck ties were tied together, they were forced to put each other’s ties in their mouths or put their fingers in each other’s ears, according to FSUPD.

“Injured pledges were sitting on their bottoms and instructed to act like they were females masturbating, sunflower seeds were spit on pledges, cigarettes were ashed on pledges,” FSUPD officers wrote in their report.

A pledge was tackled by Redish, who also slapped and choked potential members during forced speeches. One pledge said Farajzadeh pinned him to the ground for not addressing him in the correct “brother sandwich,” an example of which is “brother yes brother.”

The pledges were forced to clean the house and left at about midnight in small groups after providing their FSUID and passwords to the group’s academic chair.

For three days starting Oct. 23, pledges were forced to return to the fraternity house at 8 a.m. for chores. Until midnight, they cleaned the house, did laundry, bought food for members and drove people to class.

Pledges told police they were physically and verbally abused by Pittman and Redish as they tried to appear busy.

“If they looked like they were not doing anything, Redish, Pittman or other brothers would yell and cuss at them,” officers wrote, noting several occasions when they were physically abused. “Pledges stated they were physically and mentally exhausted from all the work at the house and some pledges were having issues in classes due to them not being able to study enough.”

University and officials respond

FSU President John Thrasher said despite his disappointment in the conduct of students, he was encouraged the incidents were being brought forward.

"As I have said many times before, FSU does not and will not tolerate hazing of any kind. We are extremely concerned and disappointed by these fraternity arrests, but we’re pleased to see people are reporting hazing and other unsafe behavior," he said in a statement. "The changes we have implemented are taking hold and the future of the Greek system at FSU is in the hands of its members and advisers. Now, it’s important to let due process run its course in this case."

Jean Lloyd, spokesperson for Delta Tau Delta, said the national office is aware of the arrests in Tallahassee.

“We agree with the aggressive approach the State of Florida has taken in response to hazing on its college campuses,” Lloyd said. “Those who violate the law should be held accountable.”

She said the office won’t comment on the specific members arrested, as the case is ongoing. She said the chapter remains suspended.

“Delta Tau Delta values have never allowed for hazing,” she said. “For decades, the fraternity has communicated this in its organizational policy and provided hazing prevention education for its members. We are encouraged more entities are playing a role to prevent the occurrence of hazing among young men and women. “

Delta was also being investigated for a March 9 report of an alcohol offense, a March 10 investigation into a possible sexual battery and a July 25 report of an alcohol offense and disturbance.

Back story:

Delta Tau Delta was suspended in September by its national office, a move upheld by FSU’s Office of Student Affairs.

The suspensions come almost two years after the death of Pi Kappa Phi pledge Andrew Coffey. He died at an off-campus fraternity party Nov. 3, 2017, after drinking a bottle of bourbon. After Coffey's death, Thrasher imposed an indefinite interim suspension of Greek life as the university developed new guidelines for fraternities and sororities.

Back story:

Five FSU Interfraternity Council organizations have been dismissed or suspended by FSU since Coffey’s death: Pi Kappa Phi, Phi Sigma Kappa, Phi Delta Theta, Chi Phi and Alpha Epsilon Pi.

Related: FSU's suspended Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. chapter has yet to decide on appeal

State Attorney Jack Campbell said his office works closely with university officials and when student conduct rises to criminal actions, he will prosecute.

The most recent arrests are part of a continual effort to make changes both locally and nationally.

“We’re working with FSU because we recognize it’s a culture change so there’s bigger issues, and we need to look at them not narrowly as it affects the entire community,” Campbell said. “What we’re doing on this case is impacted by (Andrew) Coffey, it’s impacted by Penn State. How is this case going to impact people, not just involved in this incident, but how is it going to be construed by the other 60,000 students we have here?”

Tallahassee Democrat higher education reporter Byron Dobson contributed to this report.

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter.