Delaware State University’s (DSU) women’s lacrosse team says South Georgia deputies racially profiled the team during a traffic stop on their way back to Delaware. The incident is now being investigated by local law enforcement and the school.

A video recorded by a teammate, who was also on the bus, shows two police officers stepping onto the bus. At the same time, one of them proceeds to ask the team to confess if anyone has marijuana, devices to smoke, or “questionable” items.

The team’s bus was filled with about 25 students returning from Florida when they were stopped on I-95 in Liberty County. 

DSU’s head coach Pamella Jenkins told Atlanta-Journal Constitution that she believes the deputies stopped the bus because most of the players are Black–About 60% of the university’s students are Black.

Jenkins recalls six white officers and a search dog investigating the bus for drugs — without probable cause.

“(The deputy) quickly went to marijuana, which stereotypically is unfortunately associated with African Americans. That’s the first thing that he went to,” Jenkins said.

The sheriff’s office said its internal affairs office will investigate the traffic stop. 

Sheriff William Bowman, who is Black, brushed away concerns that race assisted in the search and planned to use the video footage to “follow the facts” in its investigation.

“If anything is proven wrong, the appropriate actions will be taken,” Bowman told Atlanta-Journal Constitution.

The university’s president, Tony Allen, sent out a letter earlier this week saying he was “incensed” by the matter.

“We do not intend to let this or any other incident like it pass idly by. We are prepared to go wherever the evidence leads us. We have video. We have allies. Perhaps more significantly, we have the courage of our convictions,” Allen wrote.

Jenkins said two deputies asked for the driver’s license and registration while advising him to step out of the vehicle. The deputies told Jenkins and the team that they frequently find drugs or human trafficking during traffic stops.

“If there’s nothing, I’m thankful. That makes my life easier about getting this done, and we’ll have you guys on your way,” a deputy said.

The team’s luggage was searched without their permission, and although nothing illegal was found, the incident took at least 30 minutes, Jenkins said.

“I think everyone was in shock that this happened,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins said following the encounter, the team discussed the traffic stop while some students were left traumatized.

“I hope no one has to experience being accused of anything like that without probable cause,” she said.

Jenkins and the team have not received an apology from the deputies.

Blavity-UBlavity-U-Newsdelaware state universitygeorgiaRacial profilingwomen's lacrosse