Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal gadgets, body digital camera shows otherwise

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

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen released a statement on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly happened on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia legislation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse staff 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 group was returning residence from a game in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention in regards to the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no private gadgets on the bus have been searched.

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going by means of the students’ luggage and even medication.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers showed legislation enforcement trying to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and no one 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 improper lane to going via our luggage?”

A deputy responded: “Nicely, 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 discovered in the search, and Allen knowledgeable the public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officers.

Allen wrote that everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

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

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing something apart from what we are: Americans, learners, teachers, builders—useful and honorable individuals able to soar.”

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