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

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

WTOC reports Delaware State College President Tony Allen launched 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 visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse crew on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

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

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

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

Physique camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going via the scholars’ luggage and even treatment.

The college president wrote in his assertion that movies taken by players confirmed regulation enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and no one 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 incorrect lane to going by our baggage?”

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

Nothing unlawful was found within the search, and Allen knowledgeable 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 next:

“We don't intend to let this or some other incident like it pass idly by. We're ready to go wherever the proof leads us. We now have video. We've got allies. Maybe extra considerably, we have the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing something other than what we're: Americans, learners, teachers, builders—useful and honorable individuals ready to soar.”

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