Miami police criticized for ‘overly aggressive, violent’ arrest of football star Tyreek Hill during traffic stop – Essence

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and tackled to the ground by police outside Hard Rock Stadium after being pulled over for speeding and reckless driving, the Associated Press reports. Hill was arrested Sunday while en route to the team’s season opener. The incident, witnessed by fans heading to the game, quickly went viral on social media. It led to one of the officers involved being placed on administrative leave.

“Body camera video released Monday shows a police officer dragging Hill out of his McClaren sports car by the arm and head, then forcing him to lie face down on the ground after Hill rolled up the window of his sports car,” the Associated Press reports.

In a statement published on XThe Miami Dolphins expressed sadness over the “overly aggressive and violent conduct” directed at Hill, Smith and Campbell, who was briefly handcuffed during the incident.

Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels confirmed that an internal investigation is underway and will focus on the officer’s conduct during the stop. Hill, who played a pivotal role in the Dolphins’ 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars later in the day, expressed confusion about why he was being detained. “I had no idea why I was handcuffed,” he said. “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mother didn’t raise me that way. She didn’t swear. She didn’t do any of that. Like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man,” Hill said, according to the Associated Press.

When Hill learned that the officer who handcuffed him had been placed on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he said, “That should tell you all you need to know.”

Defender Calais Campbell, who witnessed the scene and tried to help, was also briefly handcuffed. He described the police response as “a bit extreme” and said he intervened to try to de-escalate the situation.

Hill, who is black, reflected on the incident, saying he didn’t want to use his status as an NFL star to avoid the situation, but wondered how it might have played out if he hadn’t been famous. “I don’t want to get into the race thing, but sometimes it gets a little iffy when you do,” he said. “What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? God knows what that guy or those guys would have done. I just wanted to make sure I did what my uncle always told me to do whenever I’m in a situation like that: ‘Just listen, put your hands on the wheel and just listen.’”

Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, expressed concern about the situation, calling it “heartbreaking” in an interview with ESPN and saying he was troubled by the escalation. He added that they would investigate the incident further, but stressed that Hill was physically unharmed but mentally shaken.

Campbell echoed similar concerns, questioning the officers’ use of force. “It seemed excessive,” he said, noting that he was handcuffed after allegedly disobeying orders when he stepped in to support Hill.

The NFL is aware of the incident but has not provided further comment, while Daniels reiterated his commitment to transparency and accountability throughout the police department’s investigation.