Bodycam footage has been released, capturing the shutdown of a hazing incident at the University of Iowa in November 2024.
The video, made public by authorities and shared on ‘The CrimePiece’ YouTube channel, shows police discovering 56 individuals who were blindfolded in the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity basement.
According to the University of Michigan, hazing can involve several acts, whether consent is given or not: “Physical injury; assault or battery; kidnapping or imprisonment; physical activity that knowingly or recklessly subjects a person or persons to an unreasonable risk of physical harm or to severe mental or emotional harm; degradation, humiliation, or compromising of moral or religious values; forced consumption of any substance; placing an individual in physical danger, which includes abandonment; and undue interference with academic endeavors.”
The University of Iowa has emphasized that hazing is banned at the institution and is also illegal under Iowa state law.
The footage from more than a year ago shows a group of young men in a basement, shirtless and many blindfolded.
They appeared to be covered in unidentified substances during the incident.
An officer in the video states: “Does anyone want to be forthcoming about what’s going on? Anyone? Because you gotta see it from my perspective of, what the f**k did I just walk into?”
There was an extended dialogue between the police and fraternity members as officers tried to understand the situation.
Unfortunately, the individuals involved did not provide much assistance to the authorities.
One officer is heard stating: “This stops here, guys,” and continues: “This is the police department. This stops here. Who is in charge?”
The officer further comments: “I’ve already given multiple commands to clear the room and get out of here, but no one’s moving. Clearly, they’re taking this pretty serious.”
Authorities later spoke with the person in charge of the fraternity outside the premises.
An officer explained: “We responded to a fire alarm, we were trying to get people to evacuate because of the fire alarm, but from my understanding, you guys refused,” and added, “Then, on top of that, we find this hazing event, we want to speak to somebody. Nobody knows anything, nobody knows anyone. Nobody knows what’s going on. This is going in a report. The University of Iowa is going to see this.”
The Alpha Delta Phi fraternity faced suspension in May 2025, a penalty that will last for the next four academic years.
Joseph Gaya, not a student at the University of Iowa, was the only person arrested and charged with interference with official acts, according to Newsweek.
However, the charges against him were eventually dropped.