Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s private items, physique camera exhibits in any other case

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey Information) - An incident that involved gamers from a college’s lacrosse team and deputies in Georgia stays below investigation.

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen released a press release 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 visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse group on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

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

The workforce was returning residence from a game in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in keeping with Allen.

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

Body digicam video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by the scholars’ baggage and even remedy.

The college president wrote in his assertion that movies taken by players confirmed legislation enforcement attempting 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 informed us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just allow them to rattle by our stuff.”

A player on the bus requested: “How did we go from being within the incorrect lane to going through our bags?”

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

Nothing illegal was discovered within the search, and Allen knowledgeable the general public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officers.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the following:

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

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing anything other than what we are: Individuals, learners, teachers, builders—useful and honorable folks ready to soar.”

Copyright 2022 WTOC by way of Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.