In response to Tyreek Hill, a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, being arrested en route to his NFL team’s season opener, the Miami-Dade Police Department launched an internal investigation.
In response to an alleged traffic infraction, Hill was detained by police on Sunday close to the Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium, as seen in an ESPN video that showed him lying on his front on the ground.
After being freed, he scored a touchdown and pretended to be handcuffed in celebration of the team’s 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“Has been placed on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted” refers to one of the police officers engaged in the incident.
According to the Dolphins, a number of teammates had stopped and gave Hill their support.
Calais Campbell, a defensive tackle, told Cameron Wolfe of NFL Network following
Speaking after the match, Hill said he did not know why he had been stopped and handcuffed.
“I wasn’t disrespectful because my mum didn’t raise me that way. I didn’t cuss. Didn’t do none of that. I’m still trying to figure it out,” the 30-year-old Super Bowl champion said.
“I was just doing what my uncle always told me to do if I was in a situation like that – just listen, put your hands on the steering wheel. Gotta be careful, man.
“They said I was speeding, but I don’t know. They said I was speeding, reckless driving, whatever.”
When informed by a reporter that one of the police officers had been placed on leave, he added: “That should tell you everything you need to know.”
Hill said he wanted to use his platform to make sure there was a “positive” outcome from the incident for himself and the police.
He added: “I do want to use this platform to say ‘What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?’
“Everybody has bad apples in every situation, but I want to be able to use this platform to figure out a way to flip this and make it a positive on both ends, my end and Miami-Dade and that way we can team together and do something positive for the community.”
After Hill’s touchdown, his team-mate Jaylen Waddle celebrated by pretending to place him in handcuffs
In a statement, Miami-Dade Police Department director Stephanie V Daniels said: “I initiated an internal affairs investigation to ensure a thorough review of the matter.
“One of the officers involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted.
“I’m committed to transparency and accountability to the community with any situation involving my officers.”
Earlier, Hill’s agent Drew Rosenhaus told ESPN, external it had been a “heartbreaking situation” but Hill was OK.
Rosenhaus said: “How things escalated into the situation they were in – handcuffs and being held on the ground by police – is mind-boggling to me.
“I’m deeply concerned by that, very troubled. We will be looking into it.”
He added: “This is crazy, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
On Monday, a police union for Miami-Dade officers issued a statement saying Hill was “uncooperative” and “initiated” the incident which led to him being handcuffed.
“First, to be clear, at no time was he ever under arrest. He was briefly detained for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger,” read the statement from South Florida Police Benevolent Association president Steadman Stahl.
“Upon being stopped, Mr Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on the scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr Hill in handcuffs.
“Mr Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground.”
