Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal items, body camera reveals in any other case

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

WTOC studies 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 regulation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse crew 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 in any respect,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The crew was returning residence from a sport in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, according to Allen.

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

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going by way of the students’ luggage and even medication.

The university president wrote in his assertion that movies taken by players showed regulation enforcement attempting to intimidate them into confessing to possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” stated Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just allow them to rattle through our stuff.”

A participant on the bus requested: “How did we go from being in the fallacious lane to going by our baggage?”

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

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

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the following:

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

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

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