Dolphins player Tyreek Hill did not ‘immediately cooperate’ with officers during stop, police union says

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The president of the South Florida police union says Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and placed face down during a traffic stop because he was not “immediately cooperative” with officers, while 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 one of the officers involved being immediately placed on administrative leave.

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

Hill later said he did not know why the officers handcuffed him.

“I have no idea, for real,” Hill said Sunday after the game. “I didn’t disrespect because my mom didn’t raise me that way. She didn’t swear. She didn’t do none of that. So like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”

Stahl said Hill was handcuffed in accordance with police department policy.

“Prior to the Dolphins game yesterday, an incident occurred in which Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and then released,” Stahl said in a statement. “First, to be clear, at no time was he arrested. He was briefly detained for the safety of the officers, 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 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 an 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 take him to the ground,” Campbell said Monday on ESPN. “I saw them kicking him and pulling him down, I mean, pulling on the handcuffs; his shoulders looked like a mess. They kind of knocked him down. It felt like a cop 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 to the scene.

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.”

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.

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