Bodycam footage released: Huge uproar in USA after arrest of NFL star Hill

Bodycam footage released
Huge uproar in the USA after arrest of NFL star Hill

10.09.2024, 07:23

The brief arrest of NFL star Tyreek Hill continues to cause a stir in the USA. While the police union defends the actions before the Dolphins’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, body cam footage suggests a different interpretation. One big question hangs over everything.

The Miami Police Union has defended its officers’ conduct toward star receiver Tyreek Hill during a traffic stop. “He was briefly detained for officer safety after driving in a manner that placed himself and others in grave danger,” union president Steadman Stahl said in a statement. “When stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with officers on the scene, who handcuffed him as per protocol and for their immediate safety.”

Since the Miami Dolphins football star was “still uncooperative,” Hill was then pushed to the ground next to his sports car. “We are confident that the measures that led to Mr. Hill being stopped are correct, as in any investigation,” Stahl continued. “However, we will wait until all the facts are known and Mr. Hill has an explanation for his actions that led to this unfortunate incident.”

The events took place in the run-up to the Dolphins’ first game of the season against the Jacksonville Jaguars (20:17). Amateur videos show the altercation, with four officers taking care of Hill. It speaks in the wide receiver’s favor that one of the quartet was later relieved of duty by the Miami-Dade Police Department.

“What if …”

The incident caused a stir in the USA. “I still don’t know what happened,” said Hill, who shone on the field with 130 yards of gains and a caught touchdown, and criticized: “What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? God knows what those guys would have done.”

The police bodycam footage has now been released. It shows Hill being arrested. Within just a minute, the situation escalates to the point where Hill is being violently pulled out of his car by police officers. As the wide receiver lies on the ground and is pressed down with a knee, one of the officers says: “Stop crying!”

Other footage shows two other Dolphins players, Jonnu Smith and Calais Campbell, parking their cars and witnessing the scene. Neither of them identified themselves as NFL professionals. Campbell is also briefly restrained by hand.

The Dolphins have spoken out following the release of the bodycam footage. The franchise condemned the “overly aggressive and violent behavior” of the police and said it was shocked that those who are supposed to protect them “use such unnecessary violence and hostility towards these players.” Not every situation is resolved in this way and so the big question remains: “What if I wasn’t Tryeek Hill?”