BC-WV--Fraternity Prank,1st Ld-Writethru/150
Police say 'kidnapping' a WVU fraternity prank

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — Morgantown police who responded to reports of a kidnapping say the incident was actually a prank by a West Virginia University fraternity.

Now seven members of Phi Gamma Delta are facing charges of disorderly conduct.

Police Chief Ed Preston said in a news release that police responded before noon Wednesday after witnesses said they saw a group of men beating someone and then stuffing him into the trunk of a car.

When police arrived at the scene and investigated further, they determined that a 21-year-old Arlington, Virginia, man had been bound with duct tape and put in the trunk in what they determined to be a prank.

WVU said it was aware of the prank and it would take "appropriate action."

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