Delaware State Univ. president says traffic stop bodycam footage contradicts sheriff's statement
Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman addressed the April 20, 2022 traffic stop, saying no personal items were searched.
DOVER, Delaware (WPVI) -- The president of Delaware State University says bodycam footage from Georgia deputies who stopped the women's lacrosse team bus contradicts statements made by the sheriff.
On Tuesday, Liberty County Sheriff William Bowman addressed the April 20, 2022 traffic stop, saying no personal items were searched.
But video shows deputies rifling through players' bags.
"Sheriff Bowman insists that personal items were not searched; the video clearly shows officers searching toiletries and clothes, and even cutting open a family graduation gift," said Delaware State University President Tony Allen in a statement.
The bus was initially pulled over after authorities said the driver was incorrectly traveling in the left lane. He was later asked to step off the bus.
SEE ALSO: Del. State Univ. lacrosse team alleges racial profiling after traffic stop turns into drug search
"After that, they came on the bus and they told us they were going to be checking through our luggage," recalled sophomore lacrosse player Sydney Anderson. "They didn't ask us, they told us."
Anderson said the traffic stop started to escalate.
"Two to six officers, then they brought their K9 and they started going through our stuff, sniffing our bags, going through our personal hygiene," said Anderson.
Head coach Pamella Jenkins said almost everyone on board was African American and called the incident racial profiling.
"I definitely felt it by the accusatory tone of the police officer. And while talking about narcotics, he went straight to marijuana," said Jenkins.
In response to these allegations, Sheriff William Bowman said he conducted an internal affairs investigation. He said his officers did everything by the book and also shared bodycam footage of the incident.
SEE ALSO: Ga. officials say DSU traffic stop was legal after team alleges racial profiling
In the video, officers explain that while the bus was initially pulled over for a traffic stop, the officers had a right to bring out their K9s and conduct a clear air sniff, which alerted them to the luggage. Thus, prompting their search.
The officers did not find anything.
President Allen is requesting the incident be "be investigated by objective, external authorities."
Read the full statement released by Delaware State University President Tony Allen below:
"I spoke with Sheriff William Bowman of Liberty County on Tuesday and note his acknowledgment to me and at his press event of the historic concerns of African Americans in traffic stops with law enforcement. He even indicated an interest in reaching out to our lacrosse team for feedback to assist his department in improving its approach to people of color. I look forward to hearing from him exactly how he would like to proceed in that regard.
However, his public statement and the released body camera footage raise more questions than answers.
Sheriff Bowman insists that personal items were not searched; the video clearly shows officers searching toiletries and clothes, and even cutting open a family graduation gift. Sheriff Bowman said the officers were unaware of the nature of the passengers on the bus; the audio clearly demonstrates that the officers were aware both that this was a busload of 'schoolgirls,' and that they did not expect to find anything other than marijuana, which the officer who entered the bus said they were not looking for.
It has become abundantly more clear that this incident must be investigated by objective, external authorities. We continue to push forward toward that objective."
