A late-night party at the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity house, 1218 E. Grand River Ave., turned into a heated argument and caused one man to be taken to the hospital, police said Thursday.

The incident occurred at about 4 a.m. Monday when members of the fraternity asked three people to leave their party, said East Lansing police Capt. Juli Liebler. The members told police the three men were causing trouble.

Liebler said the three people later returned and allegedly began damaging cars and breaking house windows with a metal pipe.

That same metal pipe was thrown at one of the fraternity brothers, causing injury to his face. A family member said the injured man had to be taken to the hospital and given stitches. He also was evaluated for possible facial reconstructive surgery. His status as of Thursday was unknown.

At least one or two people were arrested on assault charges, Liebler said, but details of the situation weren't clear. The suspects were not members of the fraternity, and it is unknown if they were students.

Liebler said the suspects claim members of the house shouted racial slurs at them. But fraternity members told police they simply asked the suspects to leave because they were causing trouble.

Members of the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and house president Cody Dawson refused to comment on the incident.

Neighbors near the house who witnessed the ordeal also refused to comment, citing a strained relationship with those in the fraternity house, and others living near the house said they weren't aware of the incident.

Liebler said police are continuing to investigate and will submit a report to the Ingham County prosecutor's office.

Amy Radford, assistant director of student life for greek affairs, said she is learning the details and talking to police about the incident.

Radford said members of the house often are encouraged by their national affiliations not to speak on certain incidents until more information is uncovered, which might explains why the members have declined to talk. She has an appointment today with Delta Sigma Phi's president to discuss the circumstances.

Radford said fights have occurred previously at fraternity houses, but in the past year, it hasn't been dealt with as much, and most of the issues were interfraternal.

Because the individuals arrested were not affiliated with greek life, it will be harder to deal with the situation, she said.

"It's hard when we don't have a clear identity of who the other individuals were that were involved," she said. "Certainly, it would be something that we'll talk with the men of the chapter about ? as far as what they could do to make sure it's a safe environment."

Radford said members of the house called police as soon as they discovered the men had returned.

"It wasn't like they fed into (the fight)," she said. "They were trying to diffuse the situation before it got worse."

Staff writer Dirk VanderHart contributed to this report.