Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse crew’s personal items, physique camera exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey News) - An incident that involved gamers from a college’s lacrosse staff and deputies in Georgia stays under investigation.

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen released a press release on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly occurred on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia legislation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse team on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

“100% you may’t be in that left lane in any respect,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The workforce was returning dwelling from a recreation in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in line with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention concerning the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal gadgets on the bus were searched.

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly showed the deputies going by way of the scholars’ bags and even medication.

The college president wrote in his statement that movies taken by gamers showed law enforcement attempting to intimidate them into confessing to possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we just let them rattle via our stuff.”

A participant on the bus asked: “How did we go from being within the wrong lane to going by our luggage?”

A deputy responded: “Nicely, he stopped y’all, he didn’t stop y’all for a site visitors violation...he stopped the driver for a traffic violation.”

Nothing illegal was discovered in the search, and Allen knowledgeable the public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officials.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the following:

“We do not intend to let this or every other incident prefer it go idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the proof leads us. Now we have video. We've got allies. Perhaps extra significantly, we have now the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We are going to by no means be bullied into believing anything apart from what we're: People, learners, academics, builders—helpful and honorable folks ready to soar.”

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