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Fraternity members dispute assault
By Jedd Rosche, Staff Writer.__ Posted November_01,_2005.
Daniel Maddox, the Maryland man who told Columbia police he was assaulted outside the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity house, could face his own charges of trespassing and assault.
Kappa Alpha President Chip Wagner said the fraternity plans to press charges against Maddox for trespassing. Maddox, 20, told police he was beaten by six men at 3 a.m. Oct. 15 in front of the Kappa Alpha house at 1301 University Ave.
Jeffrey Forkan, who was arrested last week in connection with the assault, said he told police Maddox had assaulted him. Forkan, 20, later was charged with third-degree assault. He also was arrested Oct. 16 on suspicion of possession of false identification and purchasing or possession of alcohol by a minor.
Forkan said Maddox, who was visiting a friend in Columbia, entered the fraternity house drunk and was forcibly removed by residents.
“We escorted him out with a reasonable amount of force,” Forkan said. “That’s when he came at us.”
Forkan said Maddox started the altercation by punching him. Forkan then pushed Maddox back, Forkan said. Forkan said Maddox stumbled on the street curb and landed on his face.
Forkan also said Maddox called Kappa Alpha members the same epithet that Maddox accused fraternity members of saying.
“We were called faggots,” Forkan said.
Maddox disputed Forkan’s account.
“My injuries could not be self-inflicted,” Maddox said. “They could not be from falling. Any person with any medical experience would say I was attacked.”
Maddox told The Maneater he suffered injuries to his left eye, a concussion and scarring from his left temple to his left eye. He said he would have to have plastic surgery to remove the scar.
Wagner challenged Maddox’s statement that he was assaulted outside the fraternity house and on a neighboring property.
“His statement is basically contradicting himself,” Wagner said. “He was in our house.”
Wagner was not present at the house that night, but said he heard of the incident the following morning from Kappa Alpha members, he said.
Both Forkan and Maddox said they were not drunk on the night of the incident. Maddox said he drank two beers.
Forkan said he told his side of the story to Columbia police after being arrested Oct. 27 in connection with the assault.
Bryan Liebhart, the Columbia police detective investigating the case, said he could not comment on evidence or other aspects of the investigation.
The university’s investigation into the incident will conclude by next week, Director of Student Life Mark Lucas said.
“By mid-next-week we should have a decision, but it won’t be shared with the media,” Lucas said.
The investigation being conducted by the Department of Student Life is relying on witness testimony, Lucas said.
“We use the details of the police reports and our own interviews with the alleged victims and the persons accused,” Lucas said. Lucas said he is investigating both Forkan and the Kappa Alpha Order fraternity.
Interfraternity Council spokesman Zach Jemas said the council would not comment until the investigation is completed. IFC is the governing body for 28 campus fraternities.
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