Two Towson Fraternity Brothers Charged with Hazing

TOWSON, MD — Two people have been charged in connection with a hazing incident in the spring that sent a Towson University student to the hospital, police reported.

Evan Palmer Francis, 21, of the 18300 block of Wachs Terrace in Olney, and Alexander James Cantor, 21, of the 1200 block of Midwood Court in Bel Air, were charged this week with hazing and reckless endangerment.

Francis and Cantor were members of Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE), a fraternity that a 19-year-old student was pledging when he attended a March 31 initiation event in the 300 block of Hillen Road where he was forced to do intense workouts, recite fraternity knowledge and drink unknown substances, police said.

The teen became extremely ill and was hospitalized with injuries that police later said indicated he had ingested a caustic substance.

When Cantor learned the victim was ill, police said he discouraged the teen from seeking medical help and while the victim was hospitalized, Cantor allegedly arranged the removal of TKE items from his dorm room.

Related: Towson Student Hospitalized After Alleged Hazing

Detectives determined that Francis was in charge of overseeing events and safety of pledges, while Cantor handled pledge communications for TKE.

Cantor was arrested July 22 and released the following day on $50,000 bail, police reported. His trial is set for Sept. 19 in Baltimore County District Court in Towson.

Francis was taken into custody Tuesday and released the same day on $35,000 bail, according to officials. He is slated to stand trial Sept. 19 as well.

Booking photos courtesy of the Baltimore County Police Department.