Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal objects, body digicam exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - An incident that involved gamers from a university’s lacrosse team and deputies in Georgia stays beneath investigation.

WTOC studies 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 law enforcement stopped a bus for a minor traffic violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse workforce 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,” said a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The staff was returning house from a recreation in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, according to Allen.

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

Body digicam video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly showed the deputies going via the students’ baggage and even treatment.

The university president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers confirmed law enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of drugs 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 just allow them to rattle via our stuff.”

A participant on the bus asked: “How did we go from being within the wrong lane to going by way of our baggage?”

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

Nothing illegal 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 next:

“We don't intend to let this or some other incident like it go idly by. We're ready to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have now video. We have now allies. Maybe more considerably, we now have the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We are going to never be bullied into believing something apart from what we are: People, learners, academics, builders—useful and honorable people able to soar.”

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