Sheriff claims deputies didn’t search lacrosse group’s personal items, body digital camera exhibits otherwise

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

WTOC stories Delaware State College President Tony Allen released an announcement 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 staff on board. Deputies searched the belongings of the student-athletes, together with suitcases with drug-sniffing canine.

“100% you can’t be in that left lane at all,” stated a Liberty County Sheriff’s Deputy.

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

Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman held a information convention about the incident however took no questions. He claimed that no personal gadgets on the bus were searched.

Physique digital camera video obtained by WTOC, nonetheless, clearly confirmed the deputies going through the students’ luggage and even medicine.

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

“They didn’t really ask us,” mentioned Sydney Anderson, a Delaware State Lacrosse Player. “They informed us of what they’re gonna do and no one questioned them...we simply allow them to rattle through our stuff.”

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

A deputy responded: “Properly, he stopped y’all, he didn’t stop y’all for a site visitors violation...he stopped the motive force for a traffic 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 officials.

Allen wrote that everyone was incensed over the incident.

Allen also added the following:

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

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

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