Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill admitted Wednesday that he could have handled himself “a bit differently” during a traffic stop that led to his detainment on Sunday morning.
Speaking for the first time since body camera footage was released on Monday, Hill also confirmed that he wants the immediate termination of the officer that has been placed on administrative leave (Danny Torres). Hill’s lawyer, Julius Collins, and agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said as much on Tuesday.
The footage released Monday shows Hill and an officer having a conversation before Hill rolls up his car window. The officer then knocks on the window, telling Hill to keep it down. Hill obliged by cracking it just a bit, then had more words for the officer, who once again told the 30-year-old to keep it down while threatening to remove Hill from his car.
The officer then changed his mind, demanding Hill to get out of the car anyway. Another officer stepped in and told Hill that he would break his window if he didn’t get out of the car, and that same officer then opened Hill’s door and helped forcibly bring him to the ground.
“I will say I could have been better,” Hill said. “I could have let down my window in that instant. But the thing about me is, I don’t want attention. I don’t want to be cameras-out, phones-on-you in that moment. But at the end of the day, I’m human. I’ve got to follow rules. I’ve got to do what everyone else would do.
“Now, does that give them the right to literally beat the dog out of me? Absolutely not. But at the end of the day, I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently.”
Hill received citations for reckless driving and driving without a license after being pulled over just blocks from Hard Rock Stadium hours before Sunday’s 20-17 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Earlier Tuesday, the Miami-Dade Police Department announced the identity of the officer who is under investigation. Torres is in his 27th year on the job.
Per the department’s statement, Torres “remains in administrative duties, as the Internal Affairs investigation is still ongoing. We will provide further information once it becomes available pending the outcome of the investigation.”
Dolphins teammate and defensive end Calais Campbell was also detained at the scene after trying to help Hill. Campbell did not get a citation, though. Miami tight end Jonnu Smith was also there to support Hill.
“He gotta go, man,” Hill said of the Torres. “Because in that instance right there, not only did he treat me bad. He also treated my teammates with disrespect. He had some crazy words towards them, and they didn’t even do anything. What did they do to you? They were just walking on the sidewalk. He gotta go. Not too many times that ‘Cheetah’ say people gotta go. But you, out!”
The Fritz Pollard Alliance offered the following statement on Wednesday:
“The Fritz Pollard Alliance strongly condemns the actions of the Miami-Dade police officers who on Sunday engaged Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell, and Jonnu Smith in a violent, threatening, and demeaning manner. These three men experienced what scores of black and brown people across the country have experienced when interacting with police and what scores more fear. Thankfully, on this occasion, nobody was seriously hurt. Were Hill, Campbell, and Smith not ultimately recognized as NFL players, the outcome may have been dire. It is our prayer that interactions with police across society will continue to improve and not escalate.
“The Fritz Pollard Alliance calls on the Miami-Dade Police Department to reassess its standard operating procedures with respect to both traffic stops and engaging with bystanders. Failing to do so invites a repeat of what occurred Sunday morning with potentially more tragic consequences.”
Originally a 2016 fifth-round pick by the Kansas City Chiefs, Hill played the past two seasons with the Dolphins. He led the NFL with 1,799 yards on 119 receptions and tied for the league lead with 13 touchdown catches in 16 starts last season. It was the sixth 1,000-yard season for the five-time first-team All-Pro.
–Field Level Media
