Strangulation, Kidnapping Charged To Arnold Man After Delaware Assault: Police

NEWARK, DE — Police announced that they arrested an Arnold, Maryland man last Friday after a kidnapping and an assault near the University of Delaware. Officers identified the arrestee as 20-year-old Brandon Freyre.

Authorities said the assault happened around 4 a.m. at an off-campus apartment in the 100-block of East Main Street in Newark, Delaware. The female victim reported the attack at 8:44 a.m.

Investigators alleged that Freyre and the victim got into an argument, leading the suspect to:

• Damage the victim's property
• Strike her with blunt objects
• Spray her in the eyes with spray paint
• Threaten to kill her if she called the police
• Strangle her to unconsciousness

Officials also accused Freyre of blocking the exit, preventing the victim from leaving and throwing her down the stairs after about four hours. The female eventually escaped and notified law enforcement.

Medics took the victim to an unnamed hospital. Authorities expect her to survive.

The Newark Delaware Police Department noted that it found Freyre at his apartment and arrested him without incident on these charges:

• Second-degree kidnapping
• Second-degree assault
• Strangulation
• Terroristic threatening
• Third-degree assault
• Criminal mischief

A press release said Freyre is held at the Howard R. Young Correctional Institution in Wilmington, Delaware in default of $38,100 bail.

The University of Delaware announced Tuesday that it separated Freyre from the college. This news came after a petition to expel Freyre collected more than 19,000 signatures.

Freyre's fraternity, Kappa Delta Rho, immediately reported the allegations to the university and revoked his membership on Tuesday. School officials don't think the suspected violence was connected with the fraternity.

"This recent, heinous incident of domestic violence reminds everyone in our community that we must be vigilant to uphold our values," stated University of Delaware Vice President of Student Life José-Luis Riera and Interim Chief Diversity Officer Fatimah Conley. "We know that many victims and survivors suffer in silence and that incidents like these serve to re-traumatize those who have experienced victimization. We invest time and energy in ensuring that many support resources exist at the University in order to aid all Blue Hens on a path of healing and to promote a well campus."

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