|
|
BATON ROUGE, LA (IP) - Ninty-three members of two fraternities on the campus of Louisiana State University were arrested Saturday evening after law enforcement authorities responded to calls to quell rioting that broke out after the LSU Tigers lost a nationally televised football game to the Florida Gators. State Police spokesman Capt. Dan Manhandle said the riot erupted within minutes after the game when members of the Delta Iota Kappa and Alpha Sigma Sigma fraternities attacked visitors dressed in the school colors of the University of Florida. Members of the fraternities are known as DIKs and ASSes, respectively. “The LSU DIKs and ASSes had been drinking for several days, and were apparently upset that the Tigers had lost a conference home game to Florida,” Manhandle said, “so they spilled out into the parking lot and began assaulting anyone they could identify as a fan of the Gators.” “This was really distressing,” said an unnamed representative of LSU’s athletic department. “Our A.D., Skip Bertman, issued an appeal last week to everyone to report bad behavior at Tiger Stadium, and then something like this happens. This place is out of control.” According to Manhandle, DIKs and ASSes chased down Florida fans, stripping them of any item of clothing with the UF logo or colors. Six elderly Floridians were also locked inside portable toilets, which were knocked over and then dragged for several blocks behind two pickup trucks and a Jeep Wrangler, all emblazoned with purple and gold LSU window stickers and flags. City Police chased down the vehicles and managed to rescue the abductees on Nicholson drive, about five blocks north of West Chimes Street. The badly shaken victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment of unspecified injuries. The drivers and three accomplices were arrested and taken to the Baton Rouge Police Department, where they were charged with felonious assault, kidnapping, and attempted murder, and then summarily executed, according to Otto Hangem, a spokesman with the Office of the District Attorney. Manhandle also reported that at least 15 cars were overturned and that several were set ablaze by rioters.
|
