PANAMA CITY BEACH — Police are investigating whether criminal charges should be filed against visiting fraternity members who allegedly yelled at and spat on a group of wounded veterans during a biannual warrior retreat, according to Panama City Beach Police Department officials.
However, the length of time that has lapsed since the incident — which happened during the week of April 14 — has hindered the investigation, police said.
The University of Florida’s Zeta Beta Tau (ZBT) chapter was closed Tuesday amid the allegations stemming from the biannual Warrior Beach Retreat week. The university charged the fraternity with public drunkenness, obscene behavior, causing physical harm, theft and property damage.
“In any investigation, the longer the time that passes since the incident the more difficult it is to investigate,” said PCBPD Capt. Robert Clarkson. “But it is still early in the investigation, and we are continually developing witnesses.”
Three of the fraternity members have so far been reported as either suspended or expelled. UF has refused to say whether any fraternity members have been suspended or expelled as a result of the incident, citing federal privacy laws. Those students’ names have not been released amid a flurry of outrage and threats circulating on social media.
About 60 veterans at the Warrior Beach Retreat were staying as guests of Laketown Wharf two weekends ago when members of ZBT fraternity members attending their spring formal allegedly yelled at them, spat on them, tore flags off their cars and threw beer bottles at them, according to people attending the veterans retreat.
Panama City Beach Police responded to a call April 17 but let resort management handle the situation. Management threw the students off the resort property the following day, according to Laketown Wharf. No police report was filed, but after a complaint published anonymously on social media went viral nationally, the fraternity members were reprimanded by UF and PCBPD has begun to investigate whether criminal charges can be brought against the students.
Linda Cope, founder of the Warrior Beach Retreat, said she is pleased PCBPD has begun an investigation. However, with the amount of public backlash, she encouraged people to keep a level head as the veterans decide whether they want to press charges.
“Let justice run its course,” Cope said Wednesday. “We do not need to take justice into our own hands.”
Officials reported no suspects have been identified as of Wednesday. The number of suspects sought by police, as well as any other details of the investigation, was not released by PCBPD. Clarkson said witnesses can reach out to investigators to aid in the investigation.
“Anyone who saw or heard anything can contact us to help in the investigation,” Clarkson said.
Clarkson said criminal investigators and the case agent, Sgt. Eusebio Talamantez, can be reached through the PCBPD main line of 850-233-5000.