Tyreek Hill traffic stop video released by Miami police

Authorities in Miami have shared video footage from police body cameras depicting a traffic stop that involved American football player Tyreek Hill. During the encounter, officers removed him from his car and placed him in handcuffs.

Mr. Hill was stopped while driving to Hard Rock Stadium in the South Florida city just a few hours before the season's opening game.

According to the Miami-Dade police, one of the officers involved in the incident has been reassigned to administrative duties while the investigation is underway.

Mr. Hill's Miami Dolphins teammates, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith, were also part of the situation.

On Monday, the team released a statement expressing their support for their star wide receiver. They said, "We are distressed by the excessive and aggressive behavior" directed toward Mr. Hill and the other players.

The team requested that the officers who were part of the incident face disciplinary action.

However, the local police union stated that the officers behaved appropriately during the situation.

The traffic stop took place near the team's home field. The body camera video starts as Mr. Hill's vehicle is stopped, several police officers come over, and one of them taps on the window.

“Please don’t tap on my window like that,” Mr. Hill repeats multiple times after lowering the window.

The officer asks, "Why aren't you wearing your seatbelt?"

Following a short conversation, Mr. Hill comments, "Hand over my ticket, man, so I can leave; I'm already running late."

Mr. Hill raises the car window, but the officer taps on it once more and instructs him to lower it again.

“Roll your window down, or I’ll have to pull you out of the car,” the officer orders. “In fact, just step out of the vehicle.”

The police officers extract the football player from the vehicle and lay him down on the ground with his face facing the pavement.

"When we give you an instruction, you need to follow it, got it?" one of the officers remarks while putting handcuffs on Mr. Hill.

"You were banging on my window like you were out of your mind," Mr. Hill is heard saying.

The officers then lead him to the edge of the sidewalk and have him take a seat.

"I recently underwent knee surgery, guys," Mr. Hill informs the officers.

As the situation was happening, two of Mr. Hill's fellow players, defensive tackle Calais Campbell and tight end Jonnu Smith, paused along the roadside.

Mr. Campbell mentioned that he was put in handcuffs while he attempted to step in and help with the situation.

Both players were let go soon after the traffic stop. Mr. Hill managed to make it to the game, where he scored a touchdown in the Dolphins' 20-17 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars. He celebrated by playfully acting as if he were being handcuffed alongside his teammates.

During a press conference following the match, Mr. Hill mentioned that he was unsure about the reasons for being pulled over and placed in handcuffs.

I was simply following my uncle's advice for situations like this: stay focused and keep my hands on the wheel. It's important to be cautious, you know?

"They claimed I was going too fast, but I'm not sure about that," he remarked. "Imagine if I wasn't Tyreek Hill—things could turn out really badly, you know?"

Miami-Dade Police Department Director Stephanie V. Daniels announced that they are currently investigating the matter internally. She also mentioned that one of the officers involved has been assigned to administrative tasks.

"I'm dedicated to being open and responsible to the community regarding any issues that involve my officers," Ms. Daniels stated.

The local police union released a statement calling Mr. Hill "uncooperative" and mentioned that he was "driving in a way that posed significant risks to himself and others." However, they clarified that he was never officially arrested.

"When Mr. Hill was stopped, he initially did not cooperate with the officers present. Following protocol and for their own safety, the officers decided to put Mr. Hill in handcuffs," stated Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association.

Mr. Hill's lawyer, Julius Collins, informed CNN that the footage goes against what the police union claimed.

Reports from American media indicate that Mr. Hill received tickets for reckless driving and not wearing a seatbelt.