A president of a University of Connecticut fraternity allegedly attacked a prospective brother during a hazing ritual where pledges are forced to recite a code while doing push-ups, according to state authorities.
David Vallejo was arrested Friday for allegedly throwing one of the pledges into a wall as the victim struggled during the initiation process in February, according to court documents cited by news reports.
The victim — along with another pledge — was forced to recite the frat’s code during the strenuous activity, but his arms began to give out, a warrant affidavit states.
“I could not do any more push-ups,” the victim, who is a UConn student, alleged, according to the warrant affidavit reported on by the Hartford Courant.
“He grabbed me by my uniform shirt that I had to wear, and he threw me across the room into wall.”
And Vallejo, 23, then allegedly yelled at the pledge to “speed it up” before he then pressed his right forearm against the victim’s throat, reducing him to tears, the newspaper reported.
The alleged abuse continued the next day when the victim and others were once again forced to repeat more of the code in a push-up position.
But the victim claimed to state police that when he couldn’t hold the position because of bruising from the previous night, Vallejo flew into a rage again and threw him across the room.
He once again pressed his arm into the pupil’s neck, court docs allege.
“The pain is just an excuse; I know you can do better,” Vallejo allegedly said as the students struggled, according to the Courant.
Following the back-to-back assaults the victim dropped out of the fraternity the next day, but was assaulted a third time by Vallejo when he attempted to give back his uniform the next month on campus, the affidavit alleges.
Vallejo is facing third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation, second-degree unlawful restraint and disorderly conduct, WTNH reported.
He made $30,000 bail following his arrest last week, the station reported.
