Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s private items, physique digicam reveals in any other case

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Grey News) - An incident that involved players from a university’s lacrosse group and deputies in Georgia stays beneath 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 regulation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse crew on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canines.

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

The crew was returning residence from a game in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, based on Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a news convention concerning the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no private gadgets on the bus had been searched.

Physique camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly showed the deputies going by the scholars’ luggage and even medicine.

The university president wrote in his statement that movies taken by players showed regulation enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of drugs and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply allow them to rattle through our stuff.”

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

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

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

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 go idly by. We're prepared to go wherever the proof leads us. We've got video. We now have allies. Maybe extra significantly, now we have the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We are going to by no means be bullied into believing something apart from what we're: People, learners, lecturers, builders—helpful and honorable folks able to soar.”

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