Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal objects, physique digital camera exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - An incident that concerned gamers from a college’s lacrosse crew and deputies in Georgia remains below investigation.

WTOC stories Delaware State College 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 traffic violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse workforce on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canines.

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

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a news convention in regards to the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no private items on the bus had been searched.

Physique camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly confirmed the deputies going through the students’ baggage and even medicine.

The university president wrote in his statement that movies taken by gamers confirmed regulation enforcement trying to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medicine and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually ask us,” stated 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 requested: “How did we go from being within the wrong lane to going by means of our baggage?”

A deputy responded: “Nicely, he stopped y’all, he didn’t cease y’all for a visitors violation...he stopped the motive force for a visitors violation.”

Nothing unlawful 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 everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

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

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We'll never be bullied into believing anything other than what we are: People, learners, lecturers, builders—helpful and honorable individuals able to soar.”

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