Two members of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity at the University of North Texas were arrested Wednesday, charged with hazing new fraternity pledges last month.

Terry Lee Lewis Jr., 24, and Emmanuel Charles Bradford, 23, were both released hours after their arrest after posting a $2,500 surety bond, according to information released from the Denton County Jail.

UNT police arrested the two students after a confidential source told police that members of the Zeta Upsilon Chapter of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity forced new pledges to take “wood six times,” and were then struck on the buttocks six times with a wooden paddle, according to an affidavit filed with police.

The victim had visible welts, scratches and bruising on his chest, buttocks and back area, which he told police were caused by members of the fraternity’s Denton chapter, who repeatedly slapped him and other pledges with open hands, the affidavit states.

The incident happened on or about Oct. 10, according to the affidavit, and was reported to UNT police Tuesday.

When police were arresting Lewis at his residence and searching for the paddle, a 27-year-old man broke through a second-story window and fell to the ground, according to a separate affidavit related to the 27-year-old’s arrest.

Police told the man to stop and put his hands up, but he refused and attempted to run away, according to the affidavit. The man was stopped by nearby officers and immediately placed in handcuffs on a charge of evading arrest.

The man, identified as Charles Adam Sneed, told police he ran because he was scared of cops and thought the officers were performing a drug bust on the apartment and didn’t want to be caught, according to the affidavit.

Sneed received a laceration to his left hand during the fall from the window and was taken to Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton for treatment before he was taken to the Denton County Jail, the affidavit states.

A full investigation into the alleged hazing incident is being conducted by UNT police and the UNT Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, said Deborah Leliaert, vice president of university relations.

Until the investigation is complete, the Kappa Alpha Psi chapter at UNT is temporarily suspended, pending the outcome of the alleged hazing activity, Leliaert said.

“The University of North Texas has zero tolerance for hazing, which is a violation of Texas law and the university’s code of conduct,” she said.

For the last seven years — which is as far back as university records are kept by Texas law — there have been no sanctions against the Denton chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi for hazing or other related incidents, Leliaert said.

In the UNT policy manual, hazing is described as any intentional, knowing or reckless act that occurs on or off campus, which endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student for the purpose of pledging to an organization.

The national Kappa Alpha Psi Web site lists the hazing laws by state and has a statement from the National Pan-Hellenic Council stating that the council is committed to eradicating hazing.

Richard Snow, chief operating officer at Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., said he would not comment on the situation or confirm the two UNT students were fraternity members.

However, the Web site for Kappa Alpha Psi’s Denton chapter lists both Bradford and Lewis as members of the fraternity.

Media reports from other cities have indicated that other national Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity members have faced criminal charges in the past after allegedly using wooden paddles, or wooden canes, in similar hazing incidents.

The president of the Denton chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi could not be reached for comment Thursday.

UNT police are continuing to investigate the matter and more arrests could follow, said Ed Reynolds, deputy chief at the UNT Police Department.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.