Miami-Dade County police announced on Tuesday that they have placed an officer on administrative leave following the detention of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Officer Danny Torres, a veteran with 27 years of service, is being investigated by the department’s internal affairs unit.
Hill was reportedly pulled over for allegations of careless driving and not wearing a seat belt, which could result in fines of $179 and $129, respectively. According to the citations, Hill was driving a black 2018 McLaren on Northwest 199 Street around 10:40 a.m. on Sunday.
The traffic stop took place near Hard Rock Stadium, where police body cameras and onlookers recorded the moment Hill was handcuffed and placed on the ground. The Dolphins organization condemned the actions of the officers involved, labeling their behavior as “despicable” and an example of “misguided power.”
The citations involved were issued by Officer M. Batista, who has badge number 9771. In an interview with NBC News on Monday, Hill stated he was wearing his seat belt but removed it as he was being pulled over. He expressed that he was compliant during the stop and described the situation as escalating rapidly. “It just went from 0 to 60, man, from the moment that those guys pulled up behind me,” Hill remarked, noting that he contacted team security during the incident.
Miami-Dade County Chief of Public Safety James Reyes emphasized the department’s commitment to transparency, stating that body camera footage was promptly released. He expressed concern over the actions depicted in the video, asserting that they do not align with the standards expected from law enforcement, and assured that there would be accountability for any wrongdoing uncovered in the investigation.