PETERSBURG Va. (WTVR) - Police charged four members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. with hazing, according to Petersburg Police spokeswoman Esther Hyatt. Hyatt said three of the suspects are students at Virginia State University.
Police arrested VSU students Brandon Randleman, 22, Leroy Amankrah, 22, and Christopher Barnes-Prevot, 23, between April 5 and April 7. A fourth man, 28-year-old William Nicholson, was arrested during that same time period.
Randleman, who is the president of the university's student government association, introduced First Lady Michelle Obama at a campaign event last fall.
According to court documents, all four men are charged with causing bodily harm injury to another student during fraternity events between August and November 2012. Police said their investigation began last November after someone tipped off Crime Solvers.
Hyatt said the investigation included "multiple victims." Because the alleged hazing took place within Petersburg city limits, Petersburg Police is investigating, she said.
The charges come after a lawsuit filed by a former Virgina State University student who claimed he was hazed so badly, he dropped out of school. That student's lawyer, Scott Bucci, said his client had to undergo skin graphs and has been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder.
A VSU spokesman said the university's anti-hazing policies are strictly enforced.
"Anyone that wants to become a part of the Greek process has to go through at least a two to three hour training every semester," university spokesman Tom Reed said.
