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

LIBERTY COUNTY, Ga. (WTOC/Gray Information) - An incident that involved players from a university’s lacrosse workforce and deputies in Georgia remains under investigation.

WTOC experiences Delaware State University President Tony Allen released 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 visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse workforce 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,” mentioned a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a news convention concerning the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no personal items on the bus have been searched.

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly showed the deputies going by way of the scholars’ luggage and even medicine.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by players showed law enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t really ask us,” stated Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Participant. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply let them rattle through our stuff.”

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

A deputy responded: “Well, he stopped y’all, he didn’t cease y’all for a traffic violation...he stopped the motive force for a 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 officials.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the next:

“We do not intend to let this or every other incident prefer it cross idly by. We're prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We've got video. We have allies. Maybe extra significantly, we now have the courage of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing anything other than what we're: People, learners, lecturers, builders—useful and honorable folks able to soar.”

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