A New York City kindergarten teacher and a city employee have both been charged with beating another man who was pledging a Brooklyn grad chapter of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity, officials said on Friday
Steve Liverpool, 47, and Keston Frank, 34, who head the Alpha Upsilon chapter of the Ques, have been charged with assault and hazing in connection with the brutal December 7 attack on Tory Gates, 45, who had hoped to join the organization
Gates was struck on his body, chest, back, buttocks and testicles between 150-200 times, by hand and with a fraternity paddle, leaving him hospitalized, authorities charged in the complaint The attack during an initiation ceremony landed Gates in Mount Sinai Hospital for ‘swelling, substantial pain and bruising,’ the complaint, which was obtained by the New York Post, said
He was later diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, a condition where muscle breaks down and releases a protein into the blood that can damage the kidneys, as well an inability to urinate following the attack
The organization, which was founded in 1911 at Washington, DC’s historically black college of Howard University, has a history of hazing allegations In a statement provided to the Post, Chris O’Neal, a lawyer with Omega’s office of the Grand Council, said:’While the external police-led investigation continues, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc
continues to cooperate with the authorities.’If true, this situation is outrageous, uncalled for and inconsistent with the founding principles and purpose of our beloved fraternity Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. does not condone hazing or brutality in membership selection
‘ The website for the Brooklyn chapter lists Liverpool as ‘Basileus,’ a Greek term generally translated to mean ‘king’ or ’emperor ‘Liverpool, who teaches kindergarten in the Bronx, has been reassigned to a position where he doesn’t oversee children, city Department of Education officials said
Frank, who is designated as the ‘Keeper of Peace’ on the fraternity website, is an employee of the city’s Department of Social Services’ human resources administration
Share this article Share After Frank was released on Friday of his own recognizance, he was seen outside his home and asked about the incident
At that time he told a reporter, ‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’A representative for the Department of Social Services told The Post:’Our employees must be held to the highest standard, and we take allegations of misconduct very seriously
Appropriate action will be taken pending the outcome of the criminal matter.’ In addition to Liverpool and Frank, three other people were taken into custody following the beating of Gates It was not immediately clear if any other people were charged.Neither Frank or the victim, Gates, could immediately be reached for comment
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