The New Wilmington police, the college and the Sigma Nu national headquarters investigated a Jan. 23 incident in which Sigma Nu members tossed a lighted smoke bomb into another fraternity house and videotaped the act, according to a police news release. The college and the police did not release the name of the victim fraternity.

Police said members of Sigma Nu threw the smoke bomb into the house during the early morning hours while members of the undisclosed fraternity were sleeping. The bomb filled the house with smoke and set off fire alarms. While it was intended as a prank, the incident created a risk of fire and/or panic, police said.

Police said they arrested three Sigma Nu members as they were leaving the area that night. Michael John Turovsky, 20, of Garfield Heights, Ohio, and Justin Paul Finamore, 20, of New Castle, were charged with underage drinking. Matthew Todd Davis, 20, of Bethel Park, Pa., was charged with drunken driving as a minor and two traffic violations, police said.

The trio, as well as the Sigma Nu chapter as an organization, were charged with disorderly conduct, police said.

Also, according to the news release, the Sigma Nu national headquarters has suspended the chapter's charter until September. The college, the national headquarters and the alumni housing board have closed the fraternity house until January. Members of the local chapter will also be required to undergo a screening and leadership training to retain their membership status, the news release said.

New Wilmington Police Chief Carmen Piccirillo said he hopes that theunified stance by the police department, the college and the Sigma Nu national headquarters will send a clear message to students and the citizens of New Wilmington that this type of potentially dangerous activity will not be tolerated, even under the guise of a "fraternity prank."

He commented that the borough welcomes and values Westminster, its students and its fraternities.

"While the circumstances of this incident were unfortunate, the collaborative efforts of the college, its alumni, the Sigma Nu national and the police department represent a positive, dedicated approach to supporting and protecting students, the college and the local community," the release said.

Mark Meighen, director of communications and marketing at the college, said the police news release speaks for the college as well.