Tyreek Hill Goes Free: Demands Dismissal Of Attacking Officer

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill regrets how he reacted during his detainment shortly before his game on Sunday. However, he calls for the termination of the officer who restrained him.

What Happened During Tyreek Hill’s Detainment?

Hill was speeding and not wearing a seatbelt on his way to a game at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, so police pulled him over. When they knocked on his window, he refused to roll it down, told them he was going to be late, and asked for his ticket.

The officers then ordered him out of the car and pulled him to the ground despite his protests. He explained that he had surgery on his knee.

One officer physically restrained Tyreek Hill. The football player repeatedly asked if they were arresting him. He later revealed that the officer choked, pinched, and kicked him during the detainment.

“When we tell you to do something, you do it. You understand? You understand? Not what you want, but what we tell you. You’re a little f**king confused,” the officer responds.

There were also some tense interactions with other Dolphins players at the scene.

A few minutes later, Hill is sitting on the sidewalk. Video footage shows one officer telling another officer that Hill is “the Dolphin’s star player.” The officers talk to Hill, give him citations, and allow him to leave.

Tyreek Hill Calls for the Officer’s Termination

Although Hill regrets his reaction, he is calling for the termination of the officer primarily involved in restraining him, 27-year-old Danny Torres. They placed the officer on administrative duties after the incident, but Hill feels that’s not enough. His lawyer, Julius Collins, expressed Hill’s opinion in the following statement.

“Each action that a law enforcement official (takes) is governed by standard operating procedures. 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.”

Hill outlined Torres’s actions during the detainment. He said the officer forcefully pulled Tyreek Hill out of his vehicle. He placed a knee on the football player’s back and a hand around his neck. The lawyer specifically calls out incidents where the officer put his hand “on or around Mr. Hill’s neck,” a move that could be life-threatening.

Was the Tyreek Hill Event Racially Motivated?

The attorney also made a connection between this incident and attitudes between law enforcement and Black people.

“The events that occurred on Sunday, September 8, 2024, are just a reminder of the realities of the many injustices that Black and minority communities face at the hands of law enforcement. While we are in no way accusing the officer of being racist, we are accusing the customs and practices of law enforcement from a historical standpoint of being discriminatory and oppressive to black and minority communities,” he wrote.

Police and Attorney Response to the Incident

Miami Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels stated she launched an internal investigation into the Tyreek Hill incident. The local police union defended the officers and noted Hill’s uncooperative actions.

Torres’ attorneys called the decision to move him to administrative duties’ premature’ and requested his immediate reinstatement.

Officers issued Hill citations for a seatbelt violation and speeding. They reported he was driving about 60 mph in a residential zone when they pulled him over.

He made the game on time and scored an 80-yard touchdown, which he celebrated by putting his hands behind his back and wrists together. The gesture showed his sense of humor regarding the pre-game incident.