Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal gadgets, body digicam exhibits in any other case

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

WTOC reviews 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 law enforcement stopped a bus for a minor traffic violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse team on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

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

The team was returning home from a recreation in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, according to Allen.

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

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly confirmed the deputies going by way of the students’ baggage and even treatment.

The university president wrote in his statement that movies taken by players confirmed legislation enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medicine and/or drug paraphernalia.

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

A player on the bus asked: “How did we go from being within the unsuitable lane to going by means of our baggage?”

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

Nothing unlawful was found in the search, and Allen knowledgeable the 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 don't intend to let this or another incident prefer it pass idly by. We're prepared to go wherever the proof leads us. We've video. Now we have allies. Maybe more considerably, now we have the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We are going to by no means be bullied into believing anything other than what we're: Individuals, learners, lecturers, builders—useful and honorable individuals able to soar.”

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