Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s private items, body digital camera exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey News) - An incident that involved players from a university’s lacrosse staff and deputies in Georgia remains below investigation.

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen released an announcement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly happened on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia law 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 canine.

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

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

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

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly confirmed the deputies going by means of the scholars’ baggage and even medication.

The college president wrote in his statement that videos taken by players showed regulation enforcement making an attempt 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 knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just let them rattle via our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing unlawful 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 everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

“We don't intend to let this or any other incident like it pass idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the proof leads us. We have video. Now we have allies. Maybe more considerably, we now have the courage of our convictions.”

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

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