Body camera footage released on Monday has brought to light an incident involving Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was handcuffed during a confrontation with police. The team condemned the actions of the officers, describing them as “despicable” and alleging that they undermined the public’s trust in law enforcement.
In a strongly worded statement issued late Monday, the Miami Dolphins expressed their support for Hill, criticizing the Miami-Dade Police Department for using unnecessary force during the encounter, which took place near Hard Rock Stadium just hours before a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Despite the Dolphins’ assertion of a positive relationship with the police department, they expressed outrage over how Hill was treated during the stop. “As highlighted in the released videos, some officers misinterpret their duty to serve as an excuse for misguided authority,” the team stated.
While acknowledging the police department’s prompt release of the footage, the Dolphins called for swift action against the officers involved in what they termed “despicable behavior.”
The footage shows Hill being pulled over for speeding. An officer initially approached his vehicle to question him about not wearing a seat belt. When Hill asked the officer not to knock on his window, tension escalated. The officer insisted Hill keep the window down, threatening to remove him from the vehicle if he did not comply.
As the situation intensified, a second officer threatened to break the window. Hill eventually complied and began to exit the car, but officers forcibly pulled him out and restrained him face-down on the ground. Throughout the encounter, officers told Hill he needed to comply with their commands.
Hill, in an interview following the incident, expressed his disbelief at how quickly the situation escalated. He described being cooperative and having his identification ready for the officer. Hill also mentioned that Dolphins teammates Jonnu Smith and Calais Campbell, who witnessed the confrontation, attempted to assist but Campbell ended up being handcuffed by another officer.
Hill was cited for reckless driving following the incident, which his agent stated did not warrant such police intervention. The Dolphins expressed their dismay over the aggressive handling of the situation, pointing out the dangers that could arise from such confrontations.
Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels has announced an internal investigation and placed one officer on administrative duties pending the outcome. The police department has yet to respond to the Dolphins’ statement regarding the incident.
An attorney for the officer placed on administrative duty criticized the decision as premature while calling for a comprehensive investigation into the events. The attorney emphasized the importance of a fair review process to reveal the full circumstances surrounding the case.