UConn frat boy is charged with strangling new member during hazing initiation

A college pledgemaster has been charged with assault for allegedly pushing a  freshman recruit against a wall and choking him during a hazing.

David Vallejo, 23, was in charge of initiating new members of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity at the University of Connecticut.

This included a 'military-style' camp on February 8 and 9, the fifth and six days of the  initiation process at a house on the Tolland Turnpike in Willington.

There he screamed at the pledges like an old-school drill sergeant and had them to recite the frat's 'code' as he barked parts of it at them. 

David Vallejo, 23, (right) was in charge of initiating new members of the Lambda Theta Phi Latin fraternity at the University of Connecticut, and is accused of assault during hazing

Vallejo called himself a 'motivated student' on his LinkedIn page and claimed 'I am an effective communicator and known for being exceptionally patient'

Those who made mistakes were forced to repeat the parts they messed up while doing pushups.

Vallejo was arrested on May 3 and charged with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation/ suffocation and second-degree unlawful restraint

One freshman alleged Vallejo 'threw him across the room' when he got tired, and later pushed him against a wall and choked him.

'Every time one of us would fall to the ground, they would make us restart from the beginning,' he told police, according to a Connecticut State Police warrant.

'I could not do any more pushups... He grabbed me by my uniform shirt that I had to wear, and he threw me across the room into [the] wall.' 

The former pledge alleged Vallejo told him to 'speed it up' and when he stood up he pressed his right forearm against his throat and yelled in his face.

Vallejo only relented when the freshman started crying, the warrant alleged.

Hours later after he and the other pledges were dropped at home, he developed bruises on his arms, elbows, and kneecaps.

The next day the process was repeated, and again they failed to recite the lines and were made to do pushups.

One freshman alleged Vallejo (second from left) 'threw him across the room' when he got tired from doing pushups, and later pushed him against a wall and choked him

Vallejo (right) at the December 2022 IGC banquet with two fraternity brothers where they were presented with two awards

The freshman said he was so tired form the previous day that he fell down much faster, and Vallejo told him 'the pain is just an excuse; I know you can do better'.

But the bruises made it too difficult to continue and he groaned in pain, which allegedly enraged Vallejo, who threw him across the room again.

Vallejo then told the student he was done with him and he should take his uniform off, but the pledge refused as he didn't want to quit.

When he still couldn't do the pushups, Vallejo allegedly pushed him against the wall and pushed his forearm into his neck.  

'After that I took my uniform off, and David talked to me aside from where everyone else was. David was much nicer to me after that,' the student alleged. 

The freshman quit the next day by text, and went to Vallejo on March 21 to give the fraternity uniform back, when he was allegedly assaulted.

Police decided photos the alleged victim took of his injuries matched the allegations and issued an arrest warrant for Vallejo after he refused an interview.

Vallejo (bottom left) holds the award his frat won for Chapter of The Year

Vallejo called himself a 'motivated student' on his LinkedIn page 'with a solid background in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint'

He was arrested on May 3 and charged with disorderly conduct, third-degree assault, third-degree strangulation/suffocation and second-degree unlawful restraint.

He was released on $30,000 bail and ordered to face court again on May 21.

Vallejo called himself a 'motivated student' on his LinkedIn page 'with a solid background in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint'.

'I am an effective communicator and known for being exceptionally patient,' he claimed.

'My work ethic is something I am proud of. I am ready to take the next step in my career.'

Vallejo listed experience including canvassing, working as a field official, and interning in a government relations/lobbying firm.