DSU president says traffic stop bodycam footage contradicts sheriff’s statement

On Tuesday, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman addressed the April 20, 2022 site visitors cease, saying no private objects have been searched.

However video reveals deputies rifling by gamers’ baggage.

“Sheriff Bowman insists that private objects weren’t searched; the video clearly reveals officers looking out toiletries and garments, and even reducing open a household commencement reward,” mentioned Delaware State College President Tony Allen in an announcement.

The bus was initially pulled over after authorities mentioned the motive force was incorrectly touring within the left lane. He was later requested to step off the bus.

SEE ALSO: Del. State Univ. lacrosse staff alleges racial profiling after site visitors cease turns into drug search

“After that, they got here on the bus they usually informed us they have been going to be checking by our baggage,” recalled sophomore lacrosse participant Sydney Anderson. “They did not ask us, they informed us.”

Anderson mentioned the site visitors cease began to escalate.

“Two to 6 officers, then they introduced their K9 they usually began going by our stuff, sniffing our baggage, going by our private hygiene,” mentioned Anderson.

Head coach Pamella Jenkins mentioned virtually everybody on board was African American and known as the incident racial profiling.

“I positively felt it by the accusatory tone of the police officer. And whereas speaking about narcotics, he went straight to marijuana,” mentioned Jenkins.

In response to those allegations, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman mentioned he performed an inner affairs investigation. He mentioned his officers did all the things by the e-book and in addition shared bodycam footage of the incident.

SEE ALSO: Ga. officers say DSU site visitors cease was authorized after staff alleges racial profiling

Within the video, officers clarify that whereas the bus was initially pulled over for a site visitors cease, the officers had a proper to deliver out their K9s and conduct a transparent air sniff, which alerted them to the baggage. Thus, prompting their search.

The officers didn’t discover something throughout the search.

President Allen is requesting the incident be “be investigated by goal, exterior authorities.”

Learn the complete assertion launched by Delaware State College President Tony Allen beneath:

“I spoke with Sheriff William Bowman of Liberty County on Tuesday and word his acknowledgment to me and at his press occasion of the historic issues of African Individuals in site visitors stops with regulation enforcement. He even indicated an curiosity in reaching out to our lacrosse staff for suggestions to help his division in bettering its method to individuals of coloration. I look ahead to listening to from him precisely how he wish to proceed in that regard.

Nonetheless, his public assertion and the launched physique digicam footage elevate extra questions than solutions.

Sheriff Bowman insists that private objects weren’t searched; the video clearly reveals officers looking out toiletries and garments, and even reducing open a household commencement reward. Sheriff Bowman mentioned the officers have been unaware of the character of the passengers on the bus; the audio clearly demonstrates that the officers have been conscious each that this was a busload of ‘schoolgirls,’ and that they didn’t anticipate finding something apart from marijuana, which the officer who entered the bus mentioned they weren’t in search of.

It has turn into abundantly extra clear that this incident have to be investigated by goal, exterior authorities. We proceed to push ahead towards that goal.”