MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was pulled from his sports car by Miami-Dade County police officers outside Hard Rock Stadium during a traffic stop before the team’s game on Sunday, triggering a national debate on whether the treatment was justified.
Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was pulled from his sports car by Miami-Dade County police officers outside Hard Rock Stadium during a traffic stop before the team’s game on Sunday, triggering a national debate on whether the treatment was justified.
Hill, 30, was pushed onto the ground face-first, handcuffed and then was again forced to the ground despite his complaint that sitting on the curb caused pain in his surgically repaired knee.
Hill was eventually released after receiving citations for careless driving and failing to wear his seat belt. Hours later, he caught an 80-yard touchdown pass that sparked the Dolphins’ comeback win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Police Department Director Stephanie Davis put one officer on administrative leave, and an internal affairs investigation is underway.
WHAT WE KNOW: Officer body camera video released late Monday by the Miami-Dade Police Department shows that about three hours before kickoff Sunday, two motorcycle officers were parked on an access road south of the stadium when Hill sped past in his McLaren sports car. They immediately went in pursuit. They later said he was going 60 mph (97 kph).
Hill slowed and put down his window. An officer pulled alongside and told him to pull over. He did, but put his window back up.
The officer got off his motorcycle, walked to the car and tapped on Hill’s window.
Hill lowered his window and told the officer, “Don’t knock on my window like that” while handing the officer his driver’s license.
The officer asked Hill why he didn’t have his seat belt on. Hill again told the officer not to knock on his window.
“Why you have it up? I have to knock to let you know I am here”, the officer replied.
“Give me my ticket, bro, so I can go. I am gonna be late. Do what you gotta do,” Hill told the officer.
WHAT WE DON’T KNOW: The officer’s name or his partner’s or the names of any of the other officers who arrived.
WHAT WE KNOW: After demanding his ticket, Hill again put up his window.
“Keep it down,” the officer snapped, rapping on the window with his knuckle. Hill can be seen through the tinted window buckling his seat belt.
Hill cracked his window and said, “Don’t tell me what to do” before he again put the window up.
