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

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

WTOC stories Delaware State College President Tony Allen launched an announcement 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 site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse crew on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing dogs.

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

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information conference about the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal objects on the bus had been searched.

Physique digicam video obtained by WTOC, nevertheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going through the students’ bags and even remedy.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers confirmed regulation enforcement trying to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medication and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually 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 in the incorrect lane to going by our luggage?”

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

Nothing illegal was discovered in 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 next:

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

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

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