Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse workforce’s personal items, physique digital camera shows in any other case

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

WTOC stories Delaware State University President Tony Allen launched 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 traffic violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse staff on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

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

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a news conference in regards to the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no private gadgets on the bus were searched.

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by the students’ bags and even treatment.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers showed regulation enforcement trying 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 just allow them to rattle through our stuff.”

A participant on the bus requested: “How did we go from being within the incorrect lane to going by way of our luggage?”

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

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

Allen wrote that everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

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

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

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