Tyreek Hill calls for police officer to be fired after traffic stop and arrest

Tyreek Hill called for the firing of a Miami-Dade police officer after the Miami Dolphins wide receiver was pulled over during a traffic stop outside Hard Rock Stadium on Sunday.

In a statement released on behalf of Hill, attorney Julius Collins said he and his client “believe the officer’s use of force was excessive, escalating and reckless.” The officer, identified by police as 27-year veteran Danny Torres, according to the Associated Presswas assigned to administrative duties while an investigation was underway.

Police stopped Hill as he was driving to the stadium for the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Body camera footage released by Miami-Dade police showed Hill being forced from his vehicle and laid on the ground by officers.

In the video, police approach Hill’s car and he rolls up his window after a brief conversation. The police tell Hill to keep his window down. When he didn’t roll the window all the way down, one of the four officers opened the door and pulled Hill out of the vehicle by his neck. One officer laid Hill face down on the street to handcuff him.

GALLING DEEPER

Dolphins say police action against Hill ‘overly aggressive and violent’

Hill was ticketed for reckless driving and not wearing a seat belt, AP reported.

Hill and Collins noted in their statement that the officer placed his hands on or around Hill’s neck at least twice and said the officer did not listen to Hill when he told police he had recently had knee surgery.

“The officer ignored his statement and continued to use increasing force,” the statement said.

“The events that transpired on Sunday, September 8, 2024 are just a reminder of the reality of the many injustices that people from Black and minority communities face at the hands of law enforcement,” they said. “While we are in no way accusing the officer of racism, we are accusing law enforcement practices and practices that have historically been discriminatory and oppressive to Black and minority communities. We cannot ignore this fact and remain silent on this issue simply because it is a difficult conversation.”

They conclude the statement by saying that Hill “is committed to fostering conversation and actively promoting change in community-police relations.” It brings to mind a message the wide receiver shared with X on Monday, in which he wrote, “Let’s make change happen.”

Let’s make a change

— Ty Hill (@cheetah) September 10, 2024

Attorneys Ignacio Alvarez and Israel Reyes, who represent Torres, the officer assigned to administrative duties, said they believed the decision to suspend him was “premature” but supported Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie Daniels’ call for a thorough investigation into the incident.

“We demand the immediate reinstatement of our client and a full, thorough and objective investigation, as Director Daniels has also advocated,” the spokespeople said.

On Monday, the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, a union for police officers, said it “supports the actions of our officers” involved in the incident.

“We have worked diligently across all communities to close the gap between what people think law enforcement should and can do,” the association said in a statement. “While we wait for the investigation to conclude, based on what we know, we stand by the actions of our officers, but look forward to continued open communication in the future.”

Hill’s coaches and teammates have voiced their support for him since the arrest. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday that it’s “hard for me not to feel more upset the more I think about it.”

“I think it’s incredibly important to wait until the information is gathered before making a judgment,” he said. “Regardless, I know the sentiments that I’ve expressed … are troubling. Two things came out of the adversity. I’m super proud of teammates who are teammates and super proud of our guys who understand the social responsibility of a platform and are intent on doing it right.”

(Photo: Rich Story/Getty Images)