Police Officer Seeks Reinstatement, Agent Calls for Firings in Tyreek Hill Incident
ICARO Media Group
In the aftermath of the detainment of Tyreek Hill, a star player for the Miami Dolphins, a police officer involved in the incident is now seeking reinstatement from administrative duty. The officer's attorneys, Ignacio Alvarez and Israel Reyes, have issued a statement calling for their client's immediate reinstatement, arguing that the decision to place him on administrative duties was premature. While they fully support the thorough review called for by Miami-Dade PD director Stephanie Daniels, the attorneys also urge all parties to avoid making statements that misrepresent their client's actions and potentially mislead the public.
It remains unclear whether the attorneys' statement was crafted before or after the release of the body camera footage from the incident. However, regardless of the footage's availability, the attorneys assert that their client will not make any comment until after the conclusion of the investigation. Questions regarding their client's tenure with the Miami-Dade PD and any prior disciplinary actions, incidents, or investigations remain unanswered.
Meanwhile, Tyreek Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, has expressed his indignation toward the officers involved in the incident. During an appearance on "The Dan Le Batard Show," Rosenhaus firmly stated that the officers responsible should be fired. He specifically highlighted the officer who kicked Hill and the one who put him in a chokehold, emphasizing that such behavior has no place in law enforcement. Although Rosenhaus did not explicitly state whether Hill shares his stance, he mentioned the intention to discuss the matter with Hill and his attorney, Julius Collins.
The incident occurred when Hill was pulled over for speeding on his way to the Dolphins' season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The South Florida Police Benevolent Association, the police union that works with the Miami-Dade PD, released a statement characterizing Hill as "uncooperative" with officers, leading to an escalation of the situation.
The body camera footage, released on Monday evening, reveals that Hill was instructed to exit his vehicle after a brief verbal altercation with the officer who pulled him over. However, he was subsequently forcibly removed from his car by a different officer and pushed to the ground. The same officer then handcuffed Hill while kneeling on his back, and moments later, forcefully pushed him to the ground again after instructing him to sit on the sidewalk. Hill received two citations, one for careless driving and another for a seat belt violation.
The incident also involved Dolphins players Jonnu Smith and Calais Campbell, who arrived at the scene shortly after Hill's detainment. Both players were detained, with Smith also receiving a citation. Campbell, a former Walter Payton Man of the Year award winner, expressed his surprise and disbelief at being detained for what he considered a failure to comply. Dolphins defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver echoed the sentiment, expressing shock at the situation involving Campbell.
Tyreek Hill has made multiple television appearances expressing his confusion and uncertainty regarding why he was treated like a threat by the officers. He is scheduled to address the local media on Wednesday for the first time since the release of the body camera footage, shedding more light on his perspective and experience during the incident.