Police launch review after NFL player Hill detained

Media caption,

Tyreek Hill: Miami Dolphins wide receiver on being detained by police

  • Published

Miami-Dade Police Department has started an internal investigation after Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained on his way to play in his NFL team's season opener.

A video on ESPN showed Hill lying on his front on the ground being handcuffed by police near to the Dolphins' Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday for an alleged traffic offence.

He was later released and scored a touchdown in a 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, celebrating by pretending to be placed in handcuffs.

One of the police officers involved in the incident "has been placed on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted".

The Dolphins said several team-mates had stopped and offered support for Hill.

Defensive tackle Calais Campbell told NFL Network's Cameron Wolfe after the game that he also was placed in handcuffs as he tried to "deescalate the situation".

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."

Image source, Reuters
Image caption,

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."

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