Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal items, physique camera shows otherwise

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

WTOC stories Delaware State University 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 legislation enforcement stopped a bus for a minor visitors violation with the Delaware State Lacrosse crew on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, including suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

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

The crew was returning dwelling from a recreation in Florida and traveling by a contracted bus, in line with Allen.

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a news convention about the incident but took no questions. He claimed that no personal items on the bus were searched.

Body digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going via the scholars’ luggage and even treatment.

The college president wrote in his assertion that videos taken by gamers showed law enforcement trying 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 Player. “They knowledgeable us of what they’re gonna do and nobody questioned them...we just let them rattle by means of our stuff.”

A player on the bus requested: “How did we go from being within the mistaken lane to going through our baggage?”

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

Nothing unlawful was found within the search, and Allen knowledgeable the public that he has contacted Delaware’s governor, the Black Caucus and other state officers.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen additionally 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 have now video. We now have allies. Perhaps more significantly, now we have the braveness of our convictions.”

Allen concluded his assertion by writing, “We will by no means be bullied into believing something aside from what we're: Individuals, learners, lecturers, builders—helpful and honorable individuals ready to soar.”

Copyright 2022 WTOC by way of Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved.