Berkeley police talk about past problems at fraternity where man died
BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Police are investigating the death of a young man at a UC Berkeley fraternity over the weekend.
On Monday, officials released the name of the victim and also told ABC7 News about the problems they've had with the fraternity just last month.
The man who died has been identified as 20-year-old Vaibhev Loomba of Antioch. He was found dead on Sunday around noon. Police have not yet determined how he died.
He was found at the Zeta Psi fraternity house on Bancroft Way at UC Berkeley. There was a huge party there Saturday night. Police were called to the house around noon when Loomba was not waking up. Police tell us they have already been called to the house twice last month.
"There was a notice posted regarding a party under our second response noticed in mid-October, regarding that their party was excessive and could be considered a public nuisance," said Officer Jennifer Coates. "So they were given a notice and warned regarding that, if potentially other violations occurred within a certain time period, they could then receive a civil fine; basically a ticket, so to say, of monetary value. So that notice was posted in mid-October. And then, you know, we had another previous party call over Halloween weekend. But nothing since then."
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Police tell us the house is open and they haven't shut it down. But they do plan to have the department's community services division work with the fraternity about safety. Police also want to work with the university about education for college students.
ABC7 News called the university several times Monday morning but they have not returned our calls.
Police say they are considering this a suspicious death -- they have to make sure a crime didn't occur. They also are also considering the possibility that alcohol or drugs were involved. Toxicology reports can take a while, so they say they it could take some times before they officially determine how he died.
Since the investigation is pending, the fraternity says it does not want to comment.
