NFL star Tyreek Hill calls for Miami police officer to be fired over ‘excessive and reckless’ detainment
Miami-Dade Police released bodycam footage of the incident earlier in the week
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NFL star Tyreek Hill has called for one of the officers involved in his arrest to be fired, according to his attorney.
Hill, who plays as a wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, was pulled out of his sports car during a traffic stop by Miami-Dade County police officers on Sunday, wrestled to the ground, handcuffed, and forced to sit on the curb.
The incident took place outside Hard Rock Stadium, just hours before his team was due to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On Tuesday night, Hill released a statement through his lawyer Julius Collins calling for the officer who manhandled him to be fired.
“We are demanding for the immediate termination of the officer that has been placed on administrative leave,” the statement reads.
“We are of the opinion that the officer's use of force was excessive, escalating, and reckless. We are demanding that the officer be terminated effective immediately.”
Miami-Dade Police released bodycam footage of the incident earlier in the week, citing the department’s “commitment to transparency and maintaining public trust.”
The video shows at least four officers approaching Hill’s vehicle and telling him to get out his car before pulling him from his vehicle and pushing him face-first into the road to handcuff him. He is then forced to sit on the curb.
Hill was eventually released after receiving citations for careless driving and failing to wear his seat belt.
“It happened so fast that it caught me off guard,” Hill said in a postgame interview on Sunday.
On Sunday, Miami-Dade PD director Stephanie V Daniels announced that she had called for an internal affairs investigation and that one of the officers, now identified as Danny Torres, has been “placed on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted.”
Miami Dolphin players and coaches have come out in support of their teammate, who caught seven passes and a touchdown in the game after his detainment.
“It was a little emotional for me, hearing Tyreek’s voice in the footage,” quarterback Tua Tagovailoa said Tuesday.
“It’s a shame that had to happen that way," said Dolphins offensive coordinator Frank Smith. “When you spend all your time with these guys, you want to be there for them all the time to help. For me, like many guys, you wish you were there to help as well.”
Hill's detainment has yet again raised questions regarding the treatment of black men by law enforcement, coming after a string of high-profile incidents of police brutality.