Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse crew’s personal gadgets, physique camera shows in any other case

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey Information) - An incident that involved gamers from a university’s lacrosse workforce and deputies in Georgia stays underneath investigation.

WTOC studies Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched an announcement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly occurred on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia regulation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor traffic violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse group on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canines.

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

The crew was returning house from a game in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention about the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal objects on the bus had been searched.

Body digicam video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going by means of the students’ luggage and even medication.

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

“They didn’t really 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 by means of our stuff.”

A participant on the bus requested: “How did we go from being in the improper lane to going by our luggage?”

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

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

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

“We don't intend to let this or another incident like it pass idly by. We're ready to go wherever the proof leads us. We've video. We have allies. Perhaps extra significantly, we now have the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We are going to never be bullied into believing something aside from what we're: Individuals, learners, academics, builders—helpful and honorable folks able to soar.”

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