The Miami Dolphins NFL team has condemned police conduct towards their player Tyreek Hill as “violent”, “maddening” and “despicable”.
Bodycam footage of the incident released on Monday showed officers dragging Hill out of his car, before forcing him to lie face down on the road and handcuffing him.
While he was on the ground, one officer put a knee on his back, holding the player’s wrists against his lower back.
Image: An officer put a bar hold around Hill’s upper chest or neck. Pic: Miami-Dade Police Department/Reuters
Image: Tyreek Hill. Pic: Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters
Hill, 30, was pulled over as he approached the team’s home stadium ahead of the first game of the new season on Sunday.
Three police officers detained the wide receiver near the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens in an incident that has provoked claims of biased policing.
During the video that shows Hill being dragged out of his McClaren sports car and forced to the floor after the footballer put up the window of his sports car, an officer can be heard saying “if we tell you to do something, do it”.
The officer who pulled Hill from the car then jumped behind him and put a bar hold on his upper chest under Hill’s neck.
The Dolphins condemned what they called “overly aggressive and violent” conduct by the police.
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The team said in a statement posted on X that the police action was “maddening and heartbreaking”.
Image: Officers dragged Tyreek Hill out of his car. Pic: Miami-Dade Police Department/Reuters
Calling for “swift and strong action against the officers who engaged in such despicable behaviour”, the statement said it was “a reminder that not every situation like this ends in peace… ‘What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?’ is a question that will carry with resounding impact.”
Hill told NBC News, Sky’s US partner on Monday: “It just went from nought to 60, man, from the moment that those guys pulled up behind me, knocked on my window.
A representative for the police union said Hill was at fault for not being “immediately” cooperative with officers, NBC said. An officer involved in the stop has been suspended pending an investigation.
Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said his client was charged with reckless driving and driving without a licence.
Hill thanked teammates – tight end Jonnu Smith and defensive lineman Calais Campbell – who were driving by, saw him being detained and stopped to help.
