Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse workforce’s personal objects, body camera shows in any other case

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

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched a press release 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 site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse workforce on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

“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 sport in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention in regards to the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal objects on the bus had been searched.

Body digital camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly confirmed the deputies going through the students’ baggage and even medicine.

The university president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by players showed legislation enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” stated Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply let them rattle by our stuff.”

A player on the bus requested: “How did we go from being in the fallacious lane to going via our baggage?”

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

Nothing unlawful was found 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 next:

“We do not intend to let this or some other incident like it pass idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have video. Now we have allies. Maybe extra significantly, now we have the courage of our convictions.”

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

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