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

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray Information) - An incident that concerned players from a university’s lacrosse crew and deputies in Georgia stays underneath investigation.

WTOC studies Delaware State College President Tony Allen launched a statement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly happened on April 20 in Liberty County.

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

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

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention in regards to the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no personal gadgets on the bus have been searched.

Physique digicam video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly showed the deputies going via the scholars’ luggage and even medication.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers confirmed law enforcement attempting to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” stated Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply allow them to rattle through our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing unlawful 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 everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the next:

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

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

Copyright 2022 WTOC by way of Grey Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.