CCSU Director Charged With Kidnapping, Placed on Administrative Leave

The director of the office of student conduct at Central Connecticut State University has been placed on administrative leave after Hartford police arrested him last week and charged him with kidnapping, threatening and additional charges in connection with an off-campus incident.

Online court records say police arrested 45-year-old Christopher Dukes last Wednesday and he has also been charged with strangulation, third-degree assault, second-degree breach of peace and risk of injury to a child.

A heavily redacted police incident report describes how on April 25 Hartford officers responded to a domestic violence call. The alleged victim told police Dukes grabbed her by the throat before binding her hands and mouth with duct tape in the basement, where he then punched and threatened to kill her. She said she was able to run away after a call to Duke's mother convinced him to let her upstairs.

School officials said although the incident did not take place on campus, they are looking into the matter.

“Although the incident did not take place on our campus, I am extremely concerned about the situation. Christopher Dukes has been placed on administrative leave and notified that he is not allowed access to campus until the University conducts an investigation into this matter, CCSU President Zulma R. Toro said in a statement.

A statement from the university identified Dukes as the director of the Office of Student Conduct. He is a member of the administrative staff and not on the faculty.

Dukes made a brief court appearance Monday and the case was continued until next Monday so he can receive a mental health evaluation. He has also been placed on GPS monitoring.

While he was leaving court, Dukes did not comment and his attorney had no comment.

“We have taken measures to ensure services and support offered to our students through the Office of Student Conduct continue and that our campus remains a safe environment for all. Beyond that, I am limited as to what I can say at this time because it is a personnel matter,” Toro’s statement says.

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