Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse staff’s private objects, 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 remains below investigation.

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen launched 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 team 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 in any respect,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The workforce was returning house from a recreation in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in line with Allen.

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

Physique digicam video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly showed the deputies going via the students’ luggage and even remedy.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers 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 knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we simply let them rattle by our stuff.”

A player on the bus asked: “How did we go from being within the incorrect lane to going by means 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 traffic violation.”

Nothing unlawful was found within the search, and Allen knowledgeable the general public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and different state officials.

Allen wrote that everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the next:

“We do not intend to let this or every other incident like it cross idly by. We are ready to go wherever the proof leads us. We've video. We have now allies. Maybe extra significantly, we've got the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We'll never be bullied into believing anything other than what we are: Americans, learners, lecturers, builders—useful and honorable individuals ready to soar.”

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