A Miami U.S. Secret Service agent is among three people charged in hazing incidents involving the South Florida chapter of a fraternity.
Read more Man punches hospital employees, points gun after blaming them for mother’s death, BSO says
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office announced Sunday the arrests of Marquez Christopher Pinder, 29, Lamar James, 26 and Elijah Delano Dyous, 29, in connection to repeated beatings.
Pinder is a Secret Service Agent based in Miami, according to the Secret Service’s Miami Field Office.
In a statement to NBC6, the Secret Service said “a local law enforcement agency is investigating one of our employees”.
Pinder, James and Dyous are charged with attempted manslaughter, aggravated battery with a deadly weapon and hazing with a deadly weapon. The beatings led the victim or victims to be hospitalized, officials said.
The Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office and Sweetwater Police investigated the incidents.
The hazing incidents happened in two different locations in the span of four days.
Read more Sports
The first three days of the alleged beatings with “canes and paddles” began on April 1 at an apartment located on 400 SW 107 Avenue in Sweetwater, according to the Miami-Dade Attorney’s Office.
On April 4th, the alleged beatings took place at a home located on 10277 SW 183rd Street in Southwest Miami-Dade, officials said.
The Miami Secret Service office told NBC6 that Pinder “is on administrative leave and has been since the moment we were notified”.
Officials did not reveal which fraternity the suspects are members of nor did they reveal which university the victims attend.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle condemned the alleged hazing incident:
“Among some, fraternity hazing might be seen as a tradition creating a sense of
belonging and brotherhood, but since 2001, hazing in Florida has killed Chad Meredith,
Robert Champion and Andrew Coffey while seriously injuring others. This case, with
the victims requiring hospitalization, provide clear-cut examples of hazing’s danger.”
Read more Pentagon’s official Iran war death toll no longer lists 4 troops killed during renewed fighting