MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Authorities released body camera footage on Monday that shows Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill being placed in handcuffs outside Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.
The incident happened as Hill was arriving at the stadium for the Dolphins first game of the NFL season against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I wasn’t disrespectful... because my mom didn’t raise me that way, didn’t curse, none of that,” Hill said following the game when asked about what happened.
Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels said in a statement Sunday that the department would be investigating the incident and that one officer had been placed on administrative duty.
On Monday, the department released several clips of body camera footage showing what happened outside the stadium.
In the video, Hill is seen being pulled over.
“Don’t knock on my window like that,” Hill tells one officer.
“Why do you have it up? I have to knock to let you know I’m here,” the officer responds.
After arguing back and forth, Hill tells the officer “Give me my ticket bro, so I can go.”
Hill eventually rolls his window back up, at which one point things escalated.
“Keep your window down,” the officer orders him. ”Keep your window down or I’m gonna get you out of the car. As a matter of fact, get out of the car.”
Hill was then taken to the ground and handcuffed.
The video also shows several teammates pulling over.
“Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support,” a Miami Dolphins spokesperson wrote in the statement.
The teammates included defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who said a police officer ordered him to stand back, accused him of disobeying a direct order, and handcuffed him.
“He said I was too close to the scene and then I think he said something about me not moving my car in time ... He told me later I could stay 25 feet away, and I was definitely 25 feet away when it happened,” Campbell said after Sunday’s game.
Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith said he also stopped to support Hill.
“I was checking on my teammate ... there were some words said. I wanted to make sure he was good ... just concerned about his safety,” Smith said. “Obviously, we all see the police brutality that goes on in this country, and when you see your teammate possibly being a part of that, you are doing everything in your power to help.”
The police officers ultimately let Hill and Campbell go and the Dolphins went on to beat the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel told reporters Tuesday that he didn’t feel shock but sadness following the incident.
Steadman Stahl, who leads the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, the union representing Miami-Dade police officers, issued a statement Monday saying Hill’s refusal to cooperate caused his detainment and ensuing situation.
“He (Hill) was briefly detained for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger,” Stahl wrote. “Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs.”
Independent reviews of the footage have produced mixed reactions. The debate is heated, but there’s consensus: the incident should not have unfolded the way it did, regardless of perspective.
Local 10 News also spoke with Andrew Scott, a former chief of the Boca Raton Police Department who has extensive experience with the North Miami and North Miami Beach police departments. Scott now works as an expert witness consultant, frequently testifying against police practices.
“Mr. Hill is not doing anything the officer is telling him to do,” said Scott. “The question begs, when is time sufficient enough for an officer to take action?”
Lyle Muhammad, with the Circle of Brotherhood, an organization that works on improving police-community relations, also weighed in on the situation.
“If what happened is still considered justified, we have a long way to go,” Muhammad said.
Following the release of the footage, the Dolphins released a statement on social media.
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) September 10, 2024
Miami-Dade County’s Chief of Public Safety James Reyes also released a statement Tuesday on the incident, which you can read below.
“In our commitment to full transparency, due process, and accountability, the Miami-Dade Police Department acted swiftly to release the body camera footage from Sunday’s incident with Tyreek Hill. The actions displayed on video clearly do not meet the standard we expect from law enforcement, and are deeply concerning. That’s why I worked closely with Director Daniels in having the department initiate an Internal Affairs Investigation to ensure a thorough review, and placed one of the officers involved on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted. As this process unfolds, I am committed to ensuring there is accountability for any officer misconduct identified in the course of the investigation, and we will continue to keep the community informed.”
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