Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse staff’s personal gadgets, body camera exhibits in any other case

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

WTOC experiences Delaware State College 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 team on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

“100% you may’t be in that left lane at all,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The team was returning dwelling from a game in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in accordance with Allen.

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

Body digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by way of the scholars’ baggage and even remedy.

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

“They didn’t really 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 by way of our stuff.”

A player on the bus requested: “How did we go from being in the wrong lane to going by our luggage?”

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

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

Allen wrote that everybody was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the following:

“We don't intend to let this or any other incident like it cross idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We've video. We now have allies. Perhaps extra significantly, we now have the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his statement by writing, “We will never be bullied into believing anything aside from what we are: Individuals, learners, academics, builders—helpful and honorable people ready to soar.”

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