Worth Co. parents to file lawsuit against Sheriff's Office

Updated: Apr. 22, 2017 at 6:23 PM EDT
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Jonathan Luke is a father of two. (Source:WALB)
Jonathan Luke is a father of two. (Source:WALB)

WORTH CO., GA (WALB) - A group of Worth County parents say they will file a lawsuit against the Sheriff's Office.

On Saturday more than two dozen people gathered in Sumner to talk with an Atlanta attorney about filing a federal lawsuit.

On April 14th, deputies went to Worth County High School for a drug search.

The Sheriff said they pat down all 900 plus students.

Parents said the search violated their children's fourth amendment right.

They said the sheriff's office did not have enough probable cause to pat down every kid.

"I'm okay with them doing the search, if it was done appropriately like the school has done in the past," said father of two Jonathan Luke. "But when they put their hands on my son, that's crossing the line."

"It's essentially a fourth amendment violation," said attorney Mark Begnaud. "It's 900 illegal searches, suspicion-less pat downs, suspicion-less searches."

GBI is investigating one of the deputies for allegations of inappropriate contact between the deputy and a student during the search.

MORE: GBI investigates Worth Co. Sheriff's Deputy

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