Police raid a dark basement at the University of Iowa, find 56 sh£rtless young men blindfolded, barefoot, and lined up against a wall

In footage shared by police, authorities uncovered 56 shirtless young men with food splattered on them inside a dark basement at the University of Iowa.

The students were found by police and firefighters who responded to an alarm at the Alpha Delta Phi frat house.

In bodycam video released by authorities, officers are seen bursting into the basement, where what appeared to be an illegal hazing ritual was taking place. The young men were blindfolded, lined up against the wall, barefoot, and covered in food and liquids when police arrived on November 15, 2024.

‘This is the police department, this stops here,’ an officer yelled. ‘Who is in charge?’

No one responded. The students reportedly remained silent and immobile, only shifting their eyes.

‘I’ve already given multiple commands to clear the room and get out of here, but no one’s moving,’ the officer added.

Another officer later described a strong and unpleasant smell coming from the basement as police searched for whoever was responsible. When questioned, the pledges eventually claimed their “house dad” was in charge, but said he was at work and unreachable.

Police stated that the scene appeared to be an instance of hazing, which is a criminal misdemeanor and strictly prohibited at the University of Iowa. As a result, Alpha Delta Phi was suspended for four years and will not be eligible for reinstatement until July 1, 2029, according to KCRG 9.

The footage also shows 22-year-old Joseph Gaya observing the raid. He was seen sipping a drink, vaping, and allegedly behaving inappropriately while officers checked on the pledges. At one point, he asked an officer if he wanted to “taste” a red substance on a pledge’s neck while police were checking for injuries.

Gaya later went on an angry rant at officers, telling them to leave and insisting there was no issue. He could be heard shouting: “You got nothing, you got nothing, you got f***ing nothing. There’s no fire here, there’s no nothing.”

Gaya was arrested the following day and charged with interference with official acts. However, the charges were dismissed about a year later. He was not a student at the University of Iowa and did not live at the fraternity house.

After the case was dismissed, Gaya said: “This past year has been challenging, but I’m thankful the case was dismissed, and the truth was recognized.

“I deeply appreciate the time, effort, and dedication my attorneys, Dan Vondra and Brianna Potts, put into resolving this case.

“I’m looking forward to putting this behind me and focusing on the future.’

Following the release of the bodycam footage, Gaya referenced the incident on Instagram and shared a clip of podcaster Barstool Big Kat speaking positively about his behavior during the raid.

Reacting to the incident, the University of Iowa released a statement saying: “The university took immediate action after UI Police, Iowa City Police, and Iowa City Fire Department responded to a fire alarm at the fraternity house early Friday morning and found several dozen pledges blindfolded in the basement. One person has been arrested and charged with interference with official acts.’

“The university is committed to protecting the health and safety of its students and will address any behavior that puts student safety at risk,’ the statement added.

“OSA will follow the Student Organization Discipline Procedure, which includes sanctions for prohibited behaviors including hazing, misconduct, and alcohol and illegal drugs. As registered student organizations, fraternities are expected to uphold the values of the university, and their members are expected to comply with the Code of Student Life.”