Campus police incident reports show officials at the University of Southern Mississippi knew that the Theta Delta chapter of Sigma Chi fraternity was engaging in hazing months before the university placed Sigma Chi on an "action plan" and evicted them from their frat house.

The consequences for the fraternity were put in place by USM in December for multiple violations of the Student Code of Conduct. Sigma Chi won't return to their house on what students call "Frat Row." Sigma Nu will move into the house in August, said Jim Coll, USM's chief communications officer.

Three incident reports, the first two made in September, highlight incidents described as hazing by campus police.

The incident reports also mention Sigma Chi violations of the university's drug, alcohol and weapons policies, dating back to Spring 2013.

University officials did not go into detail on what conduct violations Sigma Chi committed when they placed the fraternity in the three-phase action plan. The Sigma Chi chapter is subject to a membership review and 12-month social event ban and 18-month alcohol moratorium.

What the incident reports say

The Hattiesburg American obtained campus police incident reports relating to Sigma Chi for the last five years under a Freedom of Information Act request. They show campus police were frequently at the fraternity house for various infractions, with citations and arrests taking place during many of these visits.

One report by Assistant Police Chief Rusty Keyes details hazing at a Southern Miss football game.

Here are details from the incident reports:

Hazing allegation at Southern Miss game

In a Sept. 22 incident report, Keyes said he was contacted by USM Assistant Vice President for Student Life Denny Bubrig about the conduct of Sigma Chi pledges during a Southern Miss football matchup against Rice.

Bubrig told Keyes that he saw pledges holding seats for active members, a direct violation of the Southern Miss hazing policy.

Keyes checked video surveillance and saw male students, dressed in coats and ties, seating several seats apart, compromising about three rows. Keyes told Bubrig he would look into the claim.

About four weeks later, on Oct. 10, Bubrig told Keyes he had spoken to several witnesses and was launching an investigation into hazing by Sigma Chi.

On Oct. 15, Bubrig once again contacted Keyes and asked to meet with him and Vice President for Student Affairs Dee Dee Anderson in her office concerning information Bubrg gathered about possible Sigma Chi hazing.

"Investigation continues," Keyes wrote in the report.

More:Sigma Chi frat house will be vacated after Southern Miss chapter cited for violations

Ritual in progress at Sigma Chi house

About a week before the hazing claims were reported at the Southern Miss game, university police stumbled upon a "ritual" meeting in the Sigma Chi house, according to an incident report.

On Sept. 16, campus police officers Robert Smith and Marlen Vazquez-Silva arrived at the Sigma Chi house to conduct a security check. As they approached the front door, they noticed a sign stating "Ritual in Progress" and a black sheet covering the front entrance.

The two officers walked past the black sheet and through the lobby, opening the double doors into the front room.

"The front room had been ransacked," the police report read. "There was broken glass, beer cans, clothes on the floor, food, vomit, trash cans had been emptied, and blood on the floor. There was also blood and tissue with blood inside of the men's bathrooms on the west side of the house." At this time, Lt. Shannon Yates arrived at the house and spoke with one of the residents, telling him the house needed to be cleaned and a police report would be done.

It's unclear if university officials were notified of this incident.

More:5 SAE members expelled from fraternity

'Fraternity initiation'

On May 20, 2016, Lieutenant Jared Pierce conducted a walk-through of the Sigma Chi house. He could smell the odor of marijuana in the house.

Pierce narrowed down the source of the odor to one resident's room and confronted him.

"I noticed (he) had glassy, bloodshot eyes and I asked him about that," the report reads. "He stated he had been awake for 48 hours due to fraternity initiation."

Other instances

The incident reports also document dozens of times campus police cited the fraternity for violations of the Southern Miss alcohol policy, 13 times for violations of the university's drug policy — including six in 2018 alone — and four times for violations of the school's weapons policy over the past five years.

In one such instance, on Oct. 15, campus police found drugs, alcohol and a vandalized scarecrow decoration from a well-known Hattiesburg Halloween display at the frat house.

More:Southern Miss 2018: From celebrities to fraternity citing, it's been an action-packed year

Southern Miss response

It appears some restrictions were given to the fraternity prior to the three-phase plan of action. A Nov. 16 incident report indicates Sigma Chi was no longer allowed to have guests, and a Nov. 29 report mentions a "ban on activities." A Dec. 1 report says the fraternity is on "interim suspension."

Coll confirms action was taken against the fraternity in October, when the international fraternity suspended the Southern Miss chapter.

"(This) action was supported by the university," Coll said in an email. "Under the suspension, members were prohibited from gathering for any social or meeting purposes."

Coll said at the conclusion of a subsequent investigation on Dec. 6, the international fraternity initiated the three-phase plan of action. This plan of action was announced by Southern Miss on Dec. 10, following Hattiesburg American questions about the fraternity's status.

"The decision by university student affairs officials to support the international fraternity's plan of action was the result of actions by the chapter and its members over time," Coll said.

Michael Church, the international fraternity's executive director, did not respond to questions from the Hattiesburg American about the organization's involvement with the Southern Miss chapter of Sigma Chi.

The international fraternity offers the Crossroads program — an exploration of its values and decision-making as they apply to drugs and alcohol.

Coll said, as part of the plan of action, Southern Miss Sigma Chi must recommit to the Crossroads program.

Coll said the fraternity is now engaged in the plan of action.

"USM reserves the right to restart the student conduct process for the chapter should the chapter fail to meet the terms outlined in the plan," he said.

Story continues after gallery

Southern Miss hazing policy

It is not known whether the Southern Miss chapter of Sigma Chi has ever been educated in the international fraternity's Jordan Initiative — a movement to eradicate hazing.

"USM also provides educational training on the prevention of hazing and information related to the university's hazing policy," Coll said.

The university's hazing policy prohibits actions against members or new members that might cause bodily harm or danger, offensive physical punishment, disturbing pain, compromise dignity, contribute to embarrassment or shame, impair academic efforts or compel illegal activity.

The policy states when Southern Miss officials have reason to believe hazing has occurred, the Greek organization's advisers, state or regional director or national office will be notified immediately.

In addition, all new member activities will cease until a hearing is held. The review may lead to probationary restrictions, revocation of campus privileges, notification of national offices or possible suspension or removal of an organization's charter.

The policy further states that each chapter will be responsible for informing all members and new members in writing of the Hazing Policy.

More:USM continues investigation of SAE fraternity

Contact Ellen Ciurczak at eciurczak@gannett.com. Follow @educellen on Twitter.