Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse staff’s private gadgets, physique camera reveals otherwise

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

WTOC reviews Delaware State College President Tony Allen released a press release on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly occurred 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 may’t be in that left lane at all,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

The workforce was returning residence from a sport in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in keeping 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 had been searched.

Physique camera video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly showed the deputies going through the scholars’ luggage and even medication.

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

“They didn’t actually ask us,” said Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply let them rattle by means of our stuff.”

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

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

Nothing illegal was discovered within the search, and Allen knowledgeable the 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 pass idly by. We're ready to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have now video. Now we have allies. Maybe more significantly, we have now the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We'll by no means be bullied into believing something apart from what we're: Americans, learners, teachers, builders—helpful and honorable people ready to soar.”

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