Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s private gadgets, body camera exhibits otherwise

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray News) - An incident that concerned players from a university’s lacrosse group and deputies in Georgia remains underneath investigation.

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen released an announcement 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 canines.

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

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

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

Body camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly confirmed the deputies going via the students’ bags and even remedy.

The college president wrote in his statement that videos taken by players showed law 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 no one questioned them...we just let them rattle by our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing unlawful was discovered within the search, and Allen knowledgeable 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 also added the following:

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

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

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