Tyreek Hill was 'not immediately cooperative' during stop; officer placed on administrative duty - WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — The president of the South Florida police union says Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and placed face down during a traffic stop because he was not “immediately cooperative” with officers, but Hill said he was respectful throughout the interaction.

Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Hill was “redirected” to the field after refusing to sit down while briefly detained outside the Dolphins’ stadium in an incident that led to an officer being immediately placed on administrative leave as part of an internal investigation.

Julius B. Collins, Hill’s attorney, said the receiver’s legal team was exploring all legal options and called the agents’ actions “excessive.”

Passing fans and some teammates saw Hill handcuffed on the side of the road with at least three officers surrounding him after the stop that quickly went viral just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener Sunday.

“I didn’t disrespect because my mother didn’t raise me that way,” Hill said. “I didn’t swear. I didn’t do none of that. So, like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”

Collins, in a statement released Monday afternoon, said the traffic stop escalated when Hill gave officers his license and rolled up his window.

“At no time was he arrested,” Stahl said in the statement. “He was briefly detained for safety reasons after driving in a manner that put himself and others in great danger.”

“After being arrested, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, in accordance with policy and for their immediate safety, placed him in handcuffs. Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore directed to the ground. After the situation was resolved within minutes, Mr. Hill was issued two traffic violation tickets and was free to go.”

Miami-Dade police have yet to say what offense Hill was cited for — he said he was told he was stopped for speeding and reckless driving — but they confirmed that his teammate Calais Campbell, who was also briefly detained, was not cited. The officer who arrested Hill has been placed on administrative duty, pending the outcome of an internal investigation, which is standard procedure.

Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels told the Miami Herald on Monday that the decision to place the officer on leave came after a review of body camera footage of the roadside incident.

The Miami-Dade Police Department declined a request from The Associated Press for access to the footage, citing the ongoing internal investigation.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava issued a statement welcoming the department’s immediate launch of an investigation.

“In recent years, our country has faced significant discussions about the use of force,” she said, “and the internal review process will answer questions about why the disturbing actions shown in the public video footage were taken by the officer.”

Hill’s teammate Campbell was also briefly handcuffed after he said he tried to defuse the situation. Campbell said he was on his way to the game when he saw Hill in handcuffs.

“They were trying to throw him to the ground,” Campbell said Monday on ESPN. “I saw them kicking him and pulling him down … It felt like a police officer was pushing his head down.”

Campbell said he got out of his car with his hands above his head and approached the scene, telling officers he was a friend of Hill. He remained at the scene to “support” Hill after officers asked him to leave. Police later handcuffed him for “disobeying a direct order” by standing too close.

Campbell said tight end Jonnu Smith and later receiver Odell Beckham Jr. were also there to support Hill, who repeatedly told them, “Don’t leave me.”

Hill, 30, who is black, said he wonders what would have happened to him if he hadn’t been an NFL star. Some of his teammates, who are also black, said they are used to seeing this kind of interaction.

“Excessive use of force on a black man is not uncommon,” safety Jevon Holland said. “It’s a very common thing in the United States. So I think this issue needs to be addressed on a national level.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday he was devastated by the situation. McDaniel appeared to fight back tears as he reflected on the incident.

“It’s probably more visceral, because I do spend a lot of time prioritizing empathy, and when you know you can’t really understand, it’s the unknown that crushes me,” McDaniel said. “I can only predict, and so my predictions are — what if it’s worse?”

Gov. Ron DeSantis, speaking at an unrelated event in Miami Lakes, Florida, on Monday, said he believed it was “appropriate” for the investigation into the officers’ conduct to be opened.

“I was pleased to see that he played well in the game and that what happened on the field was beneficial to the team,” DeSantis said. “I have confidence in agencies across the state, they want to maintain the highest standards of professionalism and if for some reason that wasn’t met here, I know they will make that clear. But I will let that investigation play out.”

In May, golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and jailed after being accused of failing to follow police orders during an investigation into the death of a pedestrian outside Valhalla Golf Course in Louisville during the PGA Championship. Criminal charges against the Masters champion were later dropped.

This is not the first off-field incident involving Hill.

He was accused of hitting his girlfriend in college and was kicked off the Oklahoma State team. He later pleaded guilty to battery by strangulation. In 2019, prosecutors in suburban Kansas City declined to charge Hill after an alleged domestic violence incident involving his fiancée and their 3-year-old child.

Last offseason, Hill was investigated by Miami-Dade police for battery after it was reported he got into an argument with a South Florida marina employee that apparently ended with Hill punching the employee. Hill and the man later resolved their dispute.