FSU fraternity member under investigation for sexual battery amid warnings of drink spiking

The Florida State University Police Department is investigating a Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity brother after a woman came forward saying she was sexually battered and possibly drugged by him on Oct. 10. The incident was reported to police on Oct. 27.

The incident was reported days after FSUPD issued a warning on Oct. 20 to the campus community about an “increase in spiked beverages on or around campus locations” and provided resources on how to prevent and report incidents.

According to an 8-page police report, the two met on the Hinge dating app and spoke for about one week before they met the date of the incident.

The unnamed woman says she was sexually battered by the fraternity member after they drank at FIJI’s frat house on College Avenue and then went to a fraternity date function at The Warehouse on College, a popular downtown night club.

She says she and the man woke up naked in her bed the next morning and that she had no recollection of the night shortly after the two arrived at the bar.

The report says that the alleged victim had two drinks that she made herself at the FIJI frat house, and at one point, the drinks were briefly left unattended. She says she saw the man order two drinks after they got to the bar, and one was likely intended for her, but says her memory went blank before she knew if they got the drinks.

The victim said that there were only members of FIJI and their dates at Warehouse.

The woman told the officer writing the report that she had only intended on having two drinks at the fraternity house and that she hadn’t taken any drugs that night. When she got to Warehouse, she recalled feeling “a little bit more messed up than I intended, or a little bit more than I thought.”

“I know how I am with two drinks, and it does not make me black out,” she said.

In the morning, the woman was too uncomfortable to tell the accused to leave, and he finally left at about 10:30. She says she didn’t think she was “sober yet” and would wake up and then fall back asleep on and off for about an hour.

She noticed pain that indicated she may have been assaulted two to three days later. Since the incident was reported out of a 120-hour window, a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit could not be used to get direct physical evidence.

The woman told the fraternity member that she didn’t know what happened the night prior, and he laughed it off at first. Later, he texted her saying he felt bad that she didn’t remember the night. The report says the alleged victim said the man “was able to recall everything from the night of the incident.”

He texted her that they tried to have intercourse, but "it didn't work" so he engaged in oral sex on her.

The report says that when she read the text, it “freaked her out.” She said she did not go into the night with the intention of having sexual intercourse, even mentioning she “did not even want to kiss” him.

The woman says when she confronted the fraternity member over text messages, he was initially apologetic about the incident but later became argumentative and tried to shift the blame onto other things.

She said he first told her he felt horrible, apologized and said he was going back to his home to “reflect.”

Later, he told her he was a victim, that they were both possibly drugged and he wanted to get Warehouse “in trouble.” In their text conversations, the man told the woman “I just don’t know what to say” and “I literally would never do this.”

In their last texts he told her “this makes you look bad” and “This is a bad look for you.” He told her if she tried to do anything about the incident he would “fight it to the death.”

He then blocked the alleged victim’s number as well as her Snapchat and Hinge.

The man was suspended from Phi Gamma Delta "immediately" after the Tallahassee Democrat reached out to its president, Mitch Krueger, for comment and then notified him about the investigation.

He initially told the Democrat that it was his first time hearing about the case.

"We recently learned of allegations of sexual misconduct by one of our members unrelated to any fraternity activities, and we immediately imposed a temporary suspension of his membership," said Krueger.

"These alleged actions have no place in our organization. This suspension will remain in place until the investigation by local authorities is concluded and, if warranted, additional action will be taken."

Phi Gamma Delta's national leadership told the Tallahassee Democrat they were not aware of the investigation.

FSU’s administration has been made aware of the case and investigation, according to a university spokesperson. They said Phi Gamma Delta is currently in good standing with the university.

“Once FSUPD completes its investigation, the university will decide whether to pursue its own investigation of possible individual or organizational conduct code violations through the appropriate department,” the spokesperson said in a statement to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The university issued the campus-wide warning after the Division of Student Affairs noticed increased reports of alleged drink spiking, which legally required them to take action. Drink spiking is defined as the non-consensual, discrete placement of drugs in a drink, commonly, although not exclusively, used to subdue the drinker for purposes of sexual assault.

“We also strongly encouraged students to report these incidents to FSUPD so that any alleged crimes may be properly investigated and prosecuted," a university spokesperson said. "We continue to work to educate the campus community and increase confidence in reporting suspected incidents to law enforcement.”

This article originally appeared on FSU News: FSU fraternity brother under investigation for sexual battery