VPD discredits fraternity president claims, says no evidence of assualt

The Vermillion Police Deparment says there isn’t enough information to label an incident this past Friday morning outside of the Lambda Chi Alpha house as an assault and robbery, contrary to information provided in an email by the fraternity’s president sent to Greek Life students.

VPD is labeling the Sept. 4 incident a medical call, and says the incident has been “blown out of proportion,” VPD Chief Matt Betzen said.

There are no witnesses, footage or any other evidence that points to an assault or anything criminal in nature, Betzen said.

The student, who had been drinking, doesn’t remember any altercation before losing consciousness, nothing was stolen from him and there was no physical trauma to indicate anything other than falling down, Betzen added.

An email that was sent to sorority and fraternity leaders Friday afternoon by Lambda Chi Alpha President Nicholas Bratvold included conflicting reports. The email stated the incident was not alcohol-related, it was “likely” an assault, that $40 was missing from the fraternity member’s wallet and that he received blunt force trauma to the back of the head.

Betzen said though Bratvold was on the scene “after-the-fact” and may have heard officers discussing the possibility of an assault, he likely made assumptions too soon.

“I suspect he’s just misunderstanding the way an investigation progresses,” he said, and added that “people fill in the information they don’t have.”

Betzen went on to say that if any evidence pointing to an assault were to come to light, VPD would pursue it. But for now, those claims can’t be substantiated.

“If there’s some evidence (Bratvold) knows, we’d love to see it,” Betzen said.

Stress and concern for his friend may have also contributed to the conflicting information, Betzen said.

“I don’t feel that I can comment at this time without more information,” Bratvold said in a phone interview.

The student, whose name hasn’t been released, denied requests from The Volante for an interview.

Betzen requested that if anyone has any information that indicates a different set of circumstances to contact VPD.