Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal items, body digital camera reveals otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey Information) - An incident that concerned players from a university’s lacrosse staff and deputies in Georgia remains underneath investigation.

WTOC stories Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched an announcement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly happened on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia law enforcement stopped a bus for a minor site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse staff on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

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

The team was returning residence from a sport in Florida and traveling 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 private objects on the bus had been searched.

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by means of the scholars’ bags and even medication.

The college president wrote in his statement that videos taken by players showed regulation enforcement attempting to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

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

A participant on the bus asked: “How did we go from being in the unsuitable lane to going by way of our bags?”

A deputy responded: “Effectively, 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 discovered within the search, and Allen knowledgeable 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 next:

“We don't intend to let this or some other incident like it move idly by. We are ready to go wherever the proof leads us. We've got video. We've allies. Perhaps more significantly, we've got the courage of our convictions.”

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

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