UM student arrested for domestic violence
By Tim Summers
Assistant News Editor
A University of Mississippi student was arrested Sunday morning at the Phi Kappa Psi Fraternity house for domestic violence.
According to the report from university police, sophomore Calvert Scott Cordella of Mount Airy, Ga. repeatedly threw his girlfriend into the wall of his room in the Phi Kappa Psi house as well as into the wall of the hallway, causing injuries that included bruises, swelling and discoloration.
The police responded to a call for 911 assistance at the Phi Kappa Psi house around 3 a.m., Sunday. The two unnamed officers arrived on the scene and discovered that Cordella’s door had been barricaded from the inside and had been damaged, as though someone had been attempting to kick in the door from the outside. It took a moment to open the door due to the furniture piled on the other side. When inside, police found Cordella’s girlfriend crying and holding her left arm. She stated then, according to the report, that Cordella had thrown her several times into the wall, and she had been hurt.
The officers took pictures of the woman’s injuries as well as the doorframe of Cordella’s room with a digital camera issued by UPD.
The woman, also a student, explained that Cordella (who was not present at the time officers arrived) was highly intoxicated. She said he did not want to take her home or provide a way for her to leave. Cordella was in bed trying to sleep with his cell phone in his hand, the report said.
In order to get his attention, the woman said she pulled the cord of the charger connected to the phone. The phone then fell on the floor, and the battery popped out. Cordella then got out of bed and allegedly threw his girlfriend into the floor of his open closet, the report said.
According to the report, he then took her purse and threw it into one of the men’s shower stalls. He returned and told her what he had done and she told him that she wished to go home. The report said Cordella then called her several derogatory terms, then grabbed her keys and wallet, threatening to throw them in a toilet.
The report said the woman then followed him into the hallway where he grabbed her by both arms and threw her into the wall.
He then continued down the hallway as the girl recovered and ran back into his room, locking the door behind her, the report said.
When he returned to the room and found it locked, the report states that Cordella was yelling at the girl through the door, threatening her life and yelling obscenities. He then began several attempts to force his way into the room by hitting and kicking the door. The woman placed a large coffee table in front of the door before calling 911.
Cordella was found by police in another room down the hall and was placed under arrest for domestic violence.
This incident was not the first during their relationship, the woman said in the report.
Detective Mike Houpt of UPD said the arrest was the result of a new addition to the domestic violence laws.
The extension of the law, Houpt explained, allows for arrests for misdemeanor domestic violence to include not just offenses between current or former spouses, household members and persons with a child in common, but now also between a person in a current or former dating relationship, according to a reference guide published by the Mississippi Attorney General’s office.
Dean of students Sparky Reardon said because the matter was still under investigation, he could not comment.
Cordella was transferred to the Lafayette County Detention Center (LCDC) on a bond of $286.50 and has a court date for April 14.
The LCDC said Tuesday that Cordella was no longer in custody.
Cordella’s family was contacted but refused to comment.
Attempts were made to contact the female victim but a response was not recieved.
The DM does not name those claiming to be victims of sexual or violent crimes.
Dude, you are going to have a hard time living this one down. You might as well transfer schools. People are not going to stand for your juvenile, frat-boy behavior.
I looked this guy up on facebook. He looks like a real winner.
Here is his about me on facebook. I love the part where it talks about his goal of becoming a U.S. Rep. Yeah good luck with that!
“Well my name is Scott im from Tierra Verde Fl. Im a sophmore at Ole Miss and its bad as fuck. Im a brother at Phi Kappa Psi Mississippi Alpha chapter. I will be studying political science with pre law and then later go on to law school. My goal is to become a US Represenative in the house or senate. Im very into cars and the beach because nothign can beat the beach on a nice day with chicks and beer. Other than that im pretty easy going.”
Maybe you too should stop acting like experts on this guy just because you read the article and looked him up on facebook!
This article is nothing more than a rehashing of the police report which doesn’t even begin to tell the whole story!
Sam,
The great thing about facebook is that once you post your personal information online on a public website…guess what…it becomes public information!
Victor - you are right about the info becoming public, but this does not make you an expert on his character or personality. The DM is widely known throughout the collegiate journalism world as a sub-par paper, with low impact news stories. It’s reporting standards are far inferior to that of a comparable paper. This is why the story was published in a manner that seems all to one sided, as expected. Not to mention, the majority of the DM staff generally dislikes Ole Miss greek life, this is no secret. The DM’s account of what happened is skewed and is in NO WAY an accurate representation of what occurred. Victor, I must say, you need to grow up. The whole world doesn’t revolve around this story, or the DM. You are wrapped up in your own little world, only concerned about other peoples opinions regarding this story and your opposition to those viewpoints - nobody else really cares what you have to say, or that you seek to find fault in or discredit any supporting comments made on behalf of Mr. Cordella. His support base is much bigger and far more intelligent than yours.
Chuck,
The DM is not considered sub-par … its not great, but it does good work. Also, I’d check yourself about The DM hating Greeks, I know Tim and he’s a Greek! So get your facts straight before you post something. You know who is to blame for this so called inaccurate representation? Mr. Cordella! Who didn’t want to comment, nor did the woman it looks like. So what did The DM have, what the police said. The last time I checked, reporters can only go by what they are told. And I think anytime a FELONY occurs on campus it’s news. Deal with it. It seems to me you’re the one who needs to grow-up. But so does Mr. Corella, and probably his (I’m guessing) ex-girlfriend too.
One hopes Mr Summers will take an ethics in journalism course or follow a different career path. While totally against any type of personal violence, I still believe in “innocent until proven guilty”. To take one side of a police report as gospel( they had to have interviewed the alledged assailant), interview no witnesses and name the alledged perpitrator is outrageous if not libelous. Get all of the facts first before printing the story.
This article for me, was one hard to read. Knowing what really happened that night I couldn’t believe how far away from the truth it actually was. I consider the DM to be for the benefit of the students, but I don’t see how it is benefiting Scott Cordella. This article has ruined his college life here at Ole Miss. I also feel that those who felt it was okay to judge him by his facebook should grow up. Seriously think about it… I’m sure your facebook doesn’t tell the whole truth about you and I’m sure there as been a point when you have had something embarrassing put on your facebook. My point is that it isn’t the responsibly of the DM or the Ole Miss students to find him innocent or guilty; Thats what we have judicial courts for. I think the DM really messed up on this article, and needs to rethink how it investigates stories like this in the future.
ItdoesntmatterwhoIam,
It really doesn’t. Heck Ted Kennedy Killed a woman and has been a very popular senator for the last 30 years lol. And for all of you who judge Mr. Cordella without his side of the statement, remember, “Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, Nor hell a fury like a woman scorned”, “judge not lest you be judged” and “he who is without sin cast the first stone”.
Haley, You are the biggest moron who’s commented. What about the benifit to women hurt by domestic violence. Yes we have a justice system, and papers follow it! Often from the arrest all the way through appeal. The truth will come out, or at lease some version of it. Sorry your boy got arrested but this always happens. The DM writes a story and the dudes friends blame the messenger. Get over it, and tell Scott to hitting women.
Wait,
First, I was only commenting on the fact that the DM used his entire name. How do you expect him to ever be able to go back to classes? That is what I meant when I said it was not benefiting Scott Cordella. Secondly, I said nothing about the women affected by domestic violence. It is a truly terrible situation when a woman has to go through that, but I would just like to point out that it can go both ways. We hear about men beating women, but never really think about the times when women beat men. I never said anything about how I support domestic violence, only that I felt the DM should have enough decency to get their facts straight. Finally, while the true “version” may come out eventually that will not change the minds of those that have already judged him based on this article.
Well I do agree the DM should have named the victim, that “policy” not to name victims of violent crimes is not only unheard of in journalism, its not even true. IE: 208 owner arrested, Rodney Lockhart, Yarbrough, Lee Smiths daughter … and the list goes on. So in that sense, it was a disservice and slanted the story. But this story should do a service to students in general, watch how much you drink, don’t get out-of-control drunk, because it seems EVERY bad story has alcohol involved.
What Cordella did WAS NOT a felony. He only committed a misdemeanor (which is the bigger outrage in my opinion). It’s follows the 3 strike rule. His third one will be a felony. So Cordella, your a 1/3 of the way there. That’s why the fine was so low of $286 and some odd cents. I agree with “Wait.” These two were probably intoxicated. I’m not blaming the victim for what happend, but alcohol seems to be a contributing factor for a lot of situation like this (and not just necessarily on campus, in Oxford, etc. on the local level). Alcohol affects everyone’s judgement, and this case is no different.
So ladies and gentlemen, becareful abot hitting your respective other half (be it a girlfriend, wife, or have you whatever).
Learn from the Duke Lacrosse case; shut up and see what really happened.
I have a very hard time taking anything the people at the DM say about any Greek. They have illustrated their hatred and jealousy of their social betters too often.
If the guy did it, it should become every Rebel’s duty to make him feel unwelcomed.
Well, just like my new best friend Haley just said above: “The b*#@* got what she wanted!”
YOU SHOULD NEVER EVER PUT YOUR HANDS ON A WOMAN!!!!!!!!!! SCOTT HAS GOTTEN WHAT HE DESERVES. THAT’S WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU THINK YOUR HIGH AND MIGHTY AND UNTOUCHABLE. HE DESERVES TO BE KICKED OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY!!!!!!!!!!! BE A MAN AND LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH A SITUATION. DIDN’T HIS FATHER TEACH HIM ANYTHING ABOUT RESPECTING A WOMAN? TO HIS POOR EX GIRLFRIEND FOR HAVING TO HIDE HERSELF IN A ROOM UNTIL POLICE ARRIVED. WHAT? HIS FRATERNITY IS ONLY REQUIRING HIM TO DO ANGER MANAGEMENT AND A SEMINAR ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE….GIVE ME A BREAK WHAT DOES THAT SAY ABOUT THIS FRATERNITY? IN CONCLUSION GROW UP AND TAKE IT LIKE A MAN. YOU CAN TRY AND ACT LIKE A BIG AND BAD MAN AND PUT YOUR HANDS ON WOMAN BUT WANT TO CRY ABOUT BEING CHARGED. APRIL 14TH GET EM!!!!!!!!!!!!
whoa Ike,
I never said anything like that.
OK, let’s look at Duke. Striiper goes to cops with a lie. Over zealous prosecutor doesn’t listen to overwhelming evidence. CNN level coverage. In this case, college student calls campus police while locked in frat house room. Police come, see visible injuries, plus evidence to show a kicked in door.
The prosecutors haven’t even seen the case. So basically completly different from Duke.
To put out a story like this is “yellow journalism”. It is a shame that the author only used the police report which was the girlfriends account of the alleged domestic violence that occurrred. As a pending legal case the defendent can’t discuss/disclose his side of the incident, so this leaves him defenseless to the DM story.
When the real truth comes out thru the legal process and Scott gets to tell his side of the story and the witnesses testify well see who is the real bad person here.
For all those who believe in our great country’s judicial system YOU are INNOCENT until PROVEN GUILTY!!
The DM should be used only to line the bottom of a birdcage. They will find out that ruining a persons reputation without all the facts can result in harsh legal action!
No lawyer is going to sue The DM over this. It is their responsibilty to follow this story through. But considering they WERE citing an official police report, no legal action can be taken. And to say Cordella can’t comment b/c of pending legal issues is flat out wrong, it’s his 1st Amendment right to do so. Why not deny the charges?
Also, yellow journalism was coined in referance to stories like Hearst’s coverage of The Spanish-American War, in which a war was started over false reports. This is a story that informs readers of domestic violence to girls, and informs people of the consequences. As well as what could constitute dom. violence.
If you’re so sure these are false accusation then Cordella should file charges on her, then the dm could write about that.
Great information on page and yeah i ma going to join your room i was feeling some alone so i would see if i could find a nice person in room.
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