MIAMI GARDENS, Fla — Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill was in an upbeat mood — in what he later called his “hubby phase” — and visualizing dominating the Jacksonville Jaguars within walking distance of Hard Rock Stadium when everything instantly changed.
A Miami-Dade cop pulled him over — “They said I was speeding,” Hill would later say, “reckless driving or whatever” — and moments later, he was on the ground, hands behind his back, in handcuffs.
Miami Dolphins’ Tyreek Hill on Incident With Police
Hill ultimately was released, but not before video of the disturbing, and seemingly unnecessary, episode was already circulating social media.
Not before one of the responding officers put hands on Hill while he was restrained.
Not before Hill’s Dolphins teammate Calais Campbell was also cuffed after trying to intercede in Hill’s defense.
“What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?” pic.twitter.com/cvFiZ80N1W
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 8, 2024
Hours later — after Hill went for 130 yards and a score in a thrilling 20-17 Dolphins victory — the answers to what exactly happened, and why, were still elusive.
But it’s pretty clear from the reaction not only of the Dolphins but also of the police department and local elected officials, that at least one officer was in the wrong.
Miami-Dade Police Launch Review
Miami-Dade cops swiftly launched an internal review and then announced a short time later that an officer involved in the incident had been placed on administrative leave.
Hill, who is reportedly considering a lawsuit, has been contacted by authorities as part of their inquiry.
“One of the officers involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duties while the investigation is being conducted,” Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels wrote.
“I’m committed to transparency and accountability to the community with any situation involving my officers.”
The review will surely include reviewing and publicizing body cam footage, assuming the device was on and working.
We’ll learn then exactly what Hill said during the escalating moments, but the Dolphins receiver insists he did not curse at the officer and wasn’t disrespectful.
“I’ve been trying to figure that out,” Hill said when asked how things got so out of hand, so fast. “Right now, I’m still trying to put it all together. So I’m not gonna give you a version that I still don’t know what happened, you know what I’m saying? I do wanna be able to use the platform to say, like, what if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, bro? Like worst-case scenario, you know, because it’s crazy. Like, I wanna be a cop one day.
“I got a state trooper hat and all that. I’ve got a lot of respect for cops. but obviously, you know, everybody has bad apples in every situation, you know? So I wanna be able to use this platform, you know, to figure out ways to like flip this and, you know, make it a positive on both ends.
“On my end and then also Miami-Dade, so that way we can team together and, you know, do something positive for the community, because that’s what it’s all about, bro.”
Calais Campbell’s Involvement
Campbell, a Dolphins defensive tackle, said he was behind Hill in line trying to get into the stadium when he happened upon the incident.
“I’m driving to the game,” Campbell said. “The lane I’m in is blocked off. I see Tyreek, you know, in handcuffs.
“I feel like it was excessive force. So I get out of the car and kind of just try to assess the situation. And I think the officer, you know, I don’t know why he felt the need to put me in handcuffs, but, you know, it is what it is. The good thing is we both were able to play in the ballgame and find a way to win the ballgame.”
Here’s Calais Campbell on what happened this morning pic.twitter.com/eyzGfeOUVu
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 8, 2024
Campbell, likewise, is at a loss as to why he was cuffed. He said police told him that he was
disobeying a direct order.
“He said I was too close to the scene and then I think he said something about me not moving my car in time. I don’t know. He told me later I could stay 25 feet away, and I was definitely further than 25 feet away when it happened.”
Meanwhile, news of Hill’s situation quickly spread throughout the organization.
“I was preparing to call the game in my normal pregame routine, and I had some teammates come talk to me about what was going on with loose information,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said.
“It was very gray at the time. There was probably 20 minutes between that and their arrival from when I heard about it — maybe 30.
Mike McDaniel on the Tyreek Hill incident pic.twitter.com/cDqyWaCy94
— Adam Beasley (@AdamHBeasley) September 8, 2024
“Realistically, I think it would be improper … I don’t really know all the details of it, other than the upsetting portion of worrying about teammates and their wellbeing. I was really just happy about how our team came together when teammates were in need.
“I was proud of other guys jumping in to try to help a teammate. All the support, especially for some of the guys involved. I don’t think Calais Campbell and Jonnu [Smith], they were all pretty rattled. Beyond that, that’s all I know about the situation. It’s probably all I can shed light on and speak on until there’s more information.”