56 pledges were found blindfolded in basement at fraternity house, police say

IOWA CITY, Iowa. ( KCRG /Gray News) - Authorities in Iowa found 56 pledges blindfolded in the basement of a fraternity house.

Iowa City Police responded to the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity on the University of Iowa campus after reports of a fire alarm going off.

When officers arrived, they found the fraternity pledges in the basement, blindfolded with food splattered on them.

Officers said 21-year-old Joseph Gaya of Riverdale blocked the doorway of the basement even after being asked to move several times.

Later, police said Gaya stood in front of two witnesses in a separate room as an officer tried to talk to them about the incident.

The officer asked Gaya to step out of the way multiple times, but police said he told the witnesses to not talk to officers.

At one point, Gaya used profanity as he told officers to leave the house. Witnesses told Gaya they were fine and said he should leave.

Police officers arrested Gaya on a charge of interference with official acts. He does not live at the Alpha Delta Phi fraternity house and the University of Iowa says he is not a student.

The UI's Office of Student Accountability placed Alpha Delta Phi on interim suspension starting Friday during the investigation of the incident.

OSA says it was "due to the gravity of the allegations."

The national chapter has also suspended the charter until further notice.