Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s private objects, body digicam exhibits in any other case

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey Information) - An incident that involved gamers from a university’s lacrosse workforce and deputies in Georgia remains beneath investigation.

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched a statement 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 visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse team 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 workforce was returning dwelling from a recreation in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

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

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly showed the deputies going by way of the scholars’ bags and even medicine.

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

“They didn’t actually 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 just let them rattle through our stuff.”

A participant on the bus requested: “How did we go from being within the wrong lane to going via our baggage?”

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

Nothing unlawful was discovered within the search, and Allen informed the 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 also added the following:

“We do not intend to let this or another incident prefer it cross idly by. We're ready to go wherever the evidence leads us. We've video. We've got allies. Maybe extra significantly, we've got the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing anything aside from what we are: Individuals, learners, lecturers, builders—helpful and honorable individuals ready to soar.”

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