Ex-student won’t be charged with hate crimes

Prosecutors did not file additional charges Monday against a former college student accused of smearing body fluids on her roommate’s belongings.

The state NAACP and other civil rights advocates have asked the state to add a hate crimes charge to the criminal mischief and breach of peace counts facing 18-year-old Brianna Brochu, of Harwinton.

Police say the former University of Hartford student, who is white, wrote on Instagram in October about rubbing used tampons on her black roommate’s backpack and putting her roommate’s toothbrush “where the sun doesn’t shine.”

Brochu was arrested in early November and charged with third-degree criminal mischief and second-degree breach of peace, according to West Hartford police.

Brochu allegedly tampered with her roommate’s personal items, including smearing bodily fluids on the victim’s backback and putting moldy clam dip in her body lotion, according to The Associated Press.

After Brochu’s arrest, University of Hartford President Greg Woodward issued a statement to the school community saying the university takes this situation seriously. Brochu told the AP that Brochu is no longer a student at the school and will not be returning.

“One of our students was the alleged victim of bullying and

her story was shared across social media,” Woodward wrote in an online statement. “Let me be clear: the accused student’s behavior was reprehensible and does not reflect the values of our institution. Let me also be clear that I am confident the university has taken all steps to pursue this matter seriously, and will continue to do so.”

The story came out after Brochu allegedly wrote on Instagram in November that she finally “got rid of her roommate”

after weeks of silent aggression.

When the victim told university officials, Public Safety “immediately ensured that the victim was relocated to a safe location, notified local authorities and provided support for their investigation,” Woodward wrote.

The roommate said she developed throat pain.

Prosecutors say they’re still investigating. The case was continued until Jan. 29. Brochu left the courthouse without speaking to reporters.

Her lawyer, Tom Stevens, has said her actions were not racially motivated.