Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s private items, physique camera exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray Information) - An incident that involved gamers from a university’s lacrosse group and deputies in Georgia remains under investigation.

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen released a statement 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 site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse group on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

“100% you possibly can’t be in that left lane at all,” said a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The staff was returning residence from a recreation in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

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

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by the scholars’ baggage and even medication.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by players showed law 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 Participant. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we simply let them rattle via our stuff.”

A player on the bus requested: “How did we go from being within the improper lane to going by way of our baggage?”

A deputy responded: “Well, 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 found in the search, and Allen knowledgeable the general public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officials.

Allen wrote that everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the next:

“We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it move idly by. We are ready to go wherever the proof leads us. We've video. We have allies. Maybe extra significantly, we now have the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing anything apart from what we are: Individuals, learners, lecturers, builders—helpful and honorable people ready to soar.”

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