A U.S. Secret Service agent, Marquez Pinder, is among three men charged after an alleged four-day hazing at off-campus University of Miami residences that reportedly involved repeated beatings with canes and paddles. One law student suffered kidney failure and required surgery; a second pledge was hospitalized. Pinder, identified as the fraternity's "dean of pledges," faces hazing, attempted manslaughter and aggravated battery charges and was released to house arrest on $75,000 bond while the Secret Service places him on administrative leave.
Secret Service Agent Among Three Arrested in Alleged Brutal Hazing of University of Miami Pledges
Marquez Pinder is alleged to have beaten a fraternity student with a paddle [Miami-Dade County Corrections and Rehabilitation]
A U.S. Secret Service agent is one of three men arrested in Florida after authorities say University of Miami fraternity pledges were subjected to violent, repeated beatings during a suspected hazing ritual.
Allegations and Charges
Court records identify the agent as Marquez Pinder, 29. He was arrested alongside Lamar James, 26, and Elijah Delano Dyous, 29. All three face charges including hazing, attempted manslaughter and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, according to Miami-Dade court documents obtained by U.S. media.
Injuries and Investigation
The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office said the alleged incidents occurred over four days at several off-campus residences. An arrest warrant states investigators found evidence that pledges endured "prolonged and repeated beatings with canes and paddles" after allegedly failing to answer questions about the fraternity correctly.
One victim, identified as a law student, reportedly suffered kidney failure and required surgery; a second victim was also hospitalized. The warrant warns that without emergency medical care the first victim's injuries "would have resulted in renal failure leading to death," and that he still experiences severe pain.
Fraternity Role and Legal Conditions
Both victims were attempting to join the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at the University of Miami's Coral Gables campus. Court papers name Pinder as the chapter's "dean of pledges," the officer typically responsible for overseeing the education of new members.
A judge set Pinder's bond at $75,000 and ordered him released to house arrest with a GPS monitor. His next court appearance is scheduled for 24 September.
Official Responses
Michael Townsend, head of the Secret Service's Miami field office, said Pinder has been placed on administrative leave while the agency cooperates with investigators. The BBC has contacted Pinder's lawyer for comment.
State Attorney Kathrine Fernandez Rundle said: 'Hazing is abuse and it is a crime. Its victims too often lie in their graves and in hospital beds.'
Prosecutors noted that hazing prosecutions have increased in recent years, citing other high-profile cases around the country as authorities pay closer attention to violent initiation practices.
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