Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse crew’s private gadgets, physique digicam shows otherwise

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

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen released an announcement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly occurred 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 group on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing canines.

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

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

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

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by the students’ baggage and even medication.

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

“They didn’t actually ask us,” stated 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 by our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing illegal was found within 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 additionally added the following:

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

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing something apart from what we are: Individuals, learners, teachers, builders—useful and honorable folks able to soar.”

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