Editorial Note: We have redacted the names of the original publication to not prevent the individuals involved from succeeding post-college.

UPDATE: Nov. 15, 2021

Correction: Clarification on [redacted] and [redacted] charges; each was charged with a misdemeanor charge of the use of, or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

UPDATE: Nov. 5 – 6:00 p.m.

MOON TOWNSHIP — The Kappa Delta Rho fraternity at Robert Morris University has been suspended indefinitely after an on-campus incident that, according to newly obtained police reports, resulted from a drug bust inside the organization’s on-campus housing.

Officers from the Robert Morris University Police Department were dispatched to Washington Hall on Sept. 27 after they received a call from an on-duty Community Advisor who noticed what they thought was the smell of marijuana emanating from suite D4.

Authorities say in a police report that [redacted], 20, of West Chester, Pa., answered the door. Also included in police records are [redacted], 20, of Moon Township and [redacted], of Moon Township. Officers questioned [redacted] if anyone inside the dormitory was smoking marijuana. After hesitation, [redacted] told authorities that no one was smoking inside the room.

Police then presented the students with a consent to search form which was read and signed by the students. Police immediately discovered alcohol on the floor which [redacted] claimed as his own. Authorities then began to search individual rooms within the dormitory suite.

In the police report, officers say, “There was an overwhelming odor of marijuana in his ([redacted]) room.” After questioning again, [redacted] admitted to having marijuana inside a blue backpack under his bed. Officials discovered a large ziplock baggie that contained a large amount of marijuana. Police also discovered another mason jar containing marijuana. [Redacted] was also found to have a black scale, which according to the police report “is associated with the illegal distribution of narcotics.” Police confirmed that the substance was marijuana after conducting a field test.

When searching [redacted’s] room, officers discovered a bottle of vodka in the student’s refrigerator as well as a gold grinder with marijuana residue. When officers questioned if there was more paraphernalia, [redacted] gave officers a container which police confirmed to contain black tar marijuana, a black vape with tar residue on it, a small amount of marijuana in a bag and a mason jar with marijuana in it, according to authorities.

Authorities also found drug paraphernalia in [redacted’s] Washington Hall D4 room. Police said in a report that they recovered a multi-color grinder with marijuana residue and a ziplock bag with marijuana residue, according to court records.

[Redacted] has had encounters with law enforcement in the past, dating back to 2016. In November 2016, [redacted] appeared in court and was charged with disorderly conduct where he then paid a more than $450 citation, according to court records.

In 2017, [redacted] had another run-in with law enforcement, this time at Robert Morris University. On Sept. 1, [redacted] was charged and later was found guilty of disorderly conduct. [Redacted] again was faced with another citation amounting to over $450.

[Redacted] is now facing a total of six charges, including one felony count of possession with the intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, four misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to use or distribute and one summary count of underage drinking.

A preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 9 but was rescheduled four times and is now scheduled for Nov. 13.

This is [redacted’s] first encounter with authorities in Pennsylvania and is now facing one misdemeanor charge of the use of, or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.

[Redacted] is also a first-time offender in Pennsylvania, according to court records. [Redacted] is now facing two misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance for personal use, one misdemeanor charge of the use of, or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and one summary charge of underage drinking.

Officers discovered over 200 grams of marijuana which has a street value of over $4,000, according to Addiction Resource.

[Redacted], 20, of Moon Township and [redacted], 20, of Moon Township were also charged with possession of alcohol by a person under the age of 21. A certified summons has been issued for both individuals, but a court date has not yet been announced.

Not the first run-in with the law

After investigating further, the Kappa Delta Rho fraternity has had several encounters with law enforcement, including one this year.

On Sept. 16, [redacted], 20, of Moon Township, [redacted], 20, of Moon Township and vice president of Kappa Delta Rho, [redacted], 20, of Moon Township were all charged with one count each of disorderly conduct in relation to excessive noise, according to a police report.

Moon Township Police was called to a house party located at 965 Beaver Grade Rd. at approximately 12:32 a.m. after they received a noise complaint, according to police records. In the report, police stated that the three individuals “definitely did host a loud party which created unreasonable noise for the neighbor.”

[Redacted] faced one misdemeanor charge of possession of alcohol by a minor in February 2017. The charge was later dismissed, according to court records.

All three fraternity members were scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 1, but the hearing was rescheduled to Dec. 20 at 9 a.m.

RMU Sentry Media reached out to the vice president of student life, John Michalenko, director of special events and community standards Scott Irlbacher and the director of Residence Life Anne Lahoda, who all pointed to the statement from the university.

“The university has cooperated with the authorities, and will continue to do so,” said Jonathan Potts, a spokesperson for the university. “Beyond that we have no further comment at this time.”

RMU Sentry Media also reached out to the national headquarters of Kappa Delta Rho, which is located in Westmoreland County. After calling their Greensburg offices, and they responded with a statement via email.

Statement from Kappa Delta Rho Executive Director, Joseph Rosenberg:

“Kappa Delta Rho stands for the values of contributing to our campus and broader communities, enhancing the character of our members, and respecting the rights of all who interact with our fraternity through any of our chapters. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and the university’s investigation and disciplinary process. Upon the completion of that investigation, we will evaluate these findings. The national leadership of Kappa Delta Rho is committed to hold our brothers accountable for their actions. We embrace the principle of respect for all persons and we will adhere to that principle in this matter.”

President of the Robert Morris chapter of Kappa Delta Rho, [redacted], declined to comment.

RMU Sentry Media reached out to all of the fraternity members facing charges via email and have yet to receive a response.

UPDATE: Nov. 1 – 12:45 p.m.

MOON TOWNSHIP – The Kappa Delta Rho National Headquarters released a statement to RMU Sentry Media via email. Executive director of the organization Joseph Rosenberg spoke about the investigation as well as the members within.

“Kappa Delta Rho stands for the values of contributing to our campus and broader communities, enhancing the character of our members, and respecting the rights of all who interact with our fraternity through any of our chapters,” said Rosenberg via email. “We are cooperating fully with law enforcement agencies and the university’s investigation and disciplinary process. Upon the completion of that investigation, we will evaluate these findings. The national leadership of Kappa Delta Rho is committed to hold our brothers accountable for their actions. We embrace the principle of respect for all persons and we will adhere to that principle in this matter.”

ORIGINAL STORY

MOON TOWNSHIP — The Robert Morris University fraternity Kappa Delta Rho has been suspended indefinitely following an on-campus incident, according to chapter officials.

In an email to an RMU Sentry Media journalist, [redacted], president of the chapter, described the incident.

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“Our chapter had an on-campus incident which resulted in us not being able to carry-out chapter operations for the time being,” said [redacted].

The fraternity will be suspended indefinitely, according to the email. It was not clear if the incident involved alcohol, drugs or violated other campus and Greek Life policies.

RMU Police Chief Randy Mink spoke with RMU Sentry Media reporter Gage Goulding on the phone discussing the incident.

“The police department had nothing to do with them being suspended,” said Mink. “They were suspended because another department on campus suspended them because of what occurred during the incident, whether it would be individuals within Kappa or Kappa itself as a fraternity. It’s still not our decision, it’s someone else’s.”

Mink did say that the details around the incident are being held because the case did not appear in court yet. The court hearing was rescheduled to give another officer time to prepare for court after the lead investigating officer left the department.

“I know that they reset the date but I don’t know exactly when the date is,” said Mink.

Mink expects the hearing to be held within the next month.

The incident that lead Kappa Delta Rho to suspension did happen this academic year on the campus of Robert Morris, according to Mink.

“It happened within the last month,” said Mink.

Scott Irlbacher, director of special programs and student community standards, declined to comment on the incident.

RMU Sentry Media reached out to university officials and at the Kappa Delta Rho national headquarters. Both sources have yet to respond.