Tyreek Hill was not “immediately cooperative”: Police union

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The head of the South Florida police union said Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and placed facedown on the ground during a traffic stop because he “did not immediately cooperate” with officers. Hill, however, said he was respectful throughout the conversation.

Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said Hill was “redirected” to the field after he refused to sit down when he was briefly detained outside the Dolphins’ home stadium. As a result of the incident, one of the officers involved was immediately placed on leave.

Passing fans and some teammates saw Hill handcuffed and surrounded by at least three police officers after the stop, which quickly went viral just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener on Sunday.

Hill later said he did not know why officers handcuffed him.

“I really have no idea,” Hill said after the game Sunday. “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mom didn’t raise me that way. I didn’t curse. I didn’t do anything like that. So, like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”

Stahl said Hill was handcuffed in accordance with police regulations.

“Before yesterday’s Dolphins game, an incident occurred in which Tyreek Hill was handcuffed and released,” Stahl said in a statement. “First of all, to be clear, he was not under arrest at any time. He was briefly detained for safety reasons after driving in a manner that placed himself and others in grave danger.”

“After being stopped, Mr. Hill did not immediately cooperate with the police officers on the scene, who handcuffed Mr. Hill in accordance with regulations and for their immediate safety. Mr. Hill, still not cooperating, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore sent back to the ground. After the situation was resolved within a few minutes, Mr. Hill received two traffic tickets and was allowed to leave.”

Miami-Dade police are not yet disclosing what violation Hill was charged with — he said he was told he was stopped for speeding and reckless driving — but they did confirm that Hill’s teammate Calais Campbell, who was also briefly arrested, was not cited. The officer who arrested Hill has been placed on administrative duty, as is customary, pending the results of the investigation.

Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels told the Miami Herald on Monday that the decision to place the officer on leave came after a review of body camera footage from the roadside incident.

Miami-Dade police declined an Associated Press request to release the footage, saying the internal investigation was ongoing.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava released a statement praising the department for immediately launching an investigation.

“Over the past few years, our nation has faced important discussions about the use of force,” she said, “and the internal review process will answer questions about why the officer took the disturbing actions seen in public video footage.”

Hill’s teammate Campbell was also briefly handcuffed after attempting to de-escalate the situation. Campbell said he was on his way to the game when he saw Hill in handcuffs.

“They tried to take him down,” Campbell said on ESPN on Monday. “I saw them kicking him and pulling him down, I mean, pulling on the handcuffs; his shoulders looked like they messed up. They kind of took him down. I feel like a cop was pushing down on his head.”

Campbell said he got out of his car with his hands up and walked to the scene. He told officers he was a friend of Hill. He stayed at the scene to “support” Hill after officers asked him to leave. Police later handcuffed him for “disobeying a direct order” by being too close to the scene.

Governor Ron DeSantis said Monday at an unrelated event in Miami Lakes, Florida, that he believes it is “appropriate” to launch an investigation into the officers’ conduct.

“I was pleased to see him perform well in the game, and what happened on the field was good for the team,” DeSantis said. “I trust that the authorities in this state want to maintain the highest standards of professionalism, and if for any reason that is not being met here, I know they will make that clear. But I will allow that investigation to proceed.”

This is not the first off-field incident involving Hill.

He was accused of hitting his girlfriend in college and was kicked off the Oklahoma State team. He later pleaded guilty to domestic violence and assault by strangulation. In 2019, prosecutors in suburban Kansas City declined to charge Hill after an alleged domestic violence incident involving his fiancée and their three-year-old child.

Last offseason, Hill was investigated by Miami-Dade police for assault after it was reported that he got into an argument with a marina worker in South Florida that apparently ended with Hill punching the worker. Hill and the man were later able to resolve their dispute.