Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse staff’s private objects, physique digital camera shows in any other case

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

WTOC reports Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched a press release 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 site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse workforce on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

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

The team 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 in regards to the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no private items on the bus had been searched.

Physique digicam video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by means of the students’ bags and even treatment.

The college president wrote in his statement that videos taken by players confirmed legislation enforcement trying to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we just let them rattle by our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing unlawful was discovered in the search, and Allen informed the general public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officers.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the next:

“We do not intend to let this or every other incident like it pass idly by. We're ready to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have now video. We have allies. Perhaps more considerably, we've got the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We will never be bullied into believing anything other than what we are: Individuals, learners, academics, builders—helpful and honorable people able to soar.”

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