Police are investigating a false fire alarm that turned into a drug search in one of the third-floor rooms of Martin-Moore Hall on Friday.It was around midnight when an alarm drew TCU police officers Richard Teakell and Walker Johnson to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity house. Johnson, who was the first to arrive, found the activated fire alarm in a hallway near a room, according to a TCU police report.

In the report, Teakell said officers noticed the fire alarm had been hit and damaged by a chair. Police said they found a trail of splinters on the floor, which they followed to an undisclosed student’s room.

The student denied knowing about the incident, police said, and through an identification number on the chair, the officers traced it to another room.

While checking the room for the chair, police said, they found a pipe on a desk in the room that smelled of marijuana.

The police declined to identify the room number, and the university would not disclose the names of the students.

Officers found a case of beer on the floor of the room, police said, but neither of the room’s residents are 21 or older.

While searching for marijuana in the room, they also found five more cans full of beer, police said.

TCU police are still investigating the case, detective Vicki Lawson said.

Lawson did not name any suspects in the vandalism of the fire alarm, but TCU Police Detective Kelly Ham said if someone is caught, that person will face charges of criminal mischief, a misdemeanor.

James Parker, assistant dean of Campus Life, said the students will go through the university code of conduct disciplinary process.

“All violations of the code of conduct are handled in a consistent manner,” Parker said. “However, alcohol, drug and false fire alarms might entail different charges.

“A student will receive a letter from a judicial officer and have the choice of a formal or informal hearing.”

If found guilty for the false fire alarm, the students involved will face a $400 fine from Residential Services, he said.

Parker did not say if the students were given an alcohol violation for the beer cans found.

SAE president John Stauffer said the fraternity has disciplined the individuals involved with the drug paraphernalia and possession of alcohol, but he did not comment on the specific actions taken.

“Sigma Alpha Epsilon will not tolerate vandalism or any behavior that goes against the student code of conduct,” he said. “I think (the members) should realize that we are going to hold them accountable.”

According to TCU’s alcohol and drug abuse policies, the minimum punishment for possessing drug paraphernalia for the first time is a full year of disciplinary probation and involvement in a drug abuse education and/or treatment program.

Normally, if an alcohol violation citation is issued, the student is supposed to contact the Alcohol and Drug Education Center within five working days from the day of the incident, said Yvonne Giovanis, assistant director of the Alcohol and Drug Education Center.

The program coordinator of the sorority or fraternity house sends the alcohol violation paperwork to notify Campus Life of the infraction.

Parker said since this matter deals with the students only, the fraternity will not be subject to any disciplinary action.

“At this time I believe it is not a fraternity situation, but an individual matter,” he said.

SAE is on probation until Spring 2007 for physical hazing activity that occurred last semester.