Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse team’s personal gadgets, physique camera exhibits otherwise

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

WTOC stories Delaware State College President Tony Allen launched a press release on Monday responding to the incident that reportedly occurred on April 20 in Liberty County.

Allen wrote Georgia regulation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor site visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse staff on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including 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 staff was returning residence from a game in Florida and touring by a contracted bus, in line with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention in regards to the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal objects on the bus have been searched.

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, however, clearly showed the deputies going by way of the students’ luggage and even remedy.

The college president wrote in his statement that movies taken by gamers confirmed legislation enforcement making an attempt to intimidate them into confessing to possession of medicine and/or drug paraphernalia.

“They didn’t actually ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just allow them to rattle via our stuff.”

A player on the bus asked: “How did we go from being within the wrong lane to going by way of our baggage?”

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

Nothing illegal was found in the search, and Allen knowledgeable the general public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officials.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally added the next:

“We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it go idly by. We're prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We've video. We have now allies. Maybe more significantly, we have now the braveness of our convictions.”

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

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