Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s personal items, body digicam reveals in any other case

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

WTOC stories 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 legislation 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, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canines.

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

The crew was returning home from a sport in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in response to Allen.

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

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going by way of the scholars’ baggage and even medication.

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

“They didn’t actually ask us,” said Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just let them rattle through our stuff.”

A participant on the bus requested: “How did we go from being in the flawed lane to going by means of our luggage?”

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

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

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

“We don't intend to let this or every other incident prefer it cross idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the proof leads us. We've got video. We have now allies. Maybe extra considerably, we've got the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We are going to never be bullied into believing something aside from what we're: Individuals, learners, lecturers, builders—useful and honorable people able to soar.”

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