Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill is calling for police officer involved in viral traffic stop prior to Sunday’s season-opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars to be fired.
While speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Hill made it clear that he believes Miami-Dade police officer Danny Torres deserves more of a punishment than being placed on administrative duties.
“Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. Gone. He gotta go,” Hill said. “In that instance right there, not only did he treat me bad, he treated my teammates with disrespect.”
Tyreek Hill calls for the dismissal of the Miami-Dade officer who handled his detainment — as only Hill can. pic.twitter.com/mIkcHRAvhi
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) September 11, 2024
Tyreek Hill says although he wishes he would’ve handled himself differently when police stopped him on Sunday, that doesn’t give them the right to treat him the way they did. pic.twitter.com/vaxORIiPLE
— c. isaiah smalls ii (@stclaudeii) September 11, 2024
Torres was one of several Miami-Dade police officers at the scene when Hill was pulled over for speeding before Sundays’ game. Body camera footage released on Monday showed Torres forcibly removing Hill from his vehicle, handcuffing him while kneeling on his back and forcing him to the ground.
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Hill’s teammates Jonnu Smith and Calais Campbell arrived on the scene after seeing the wideout in handcuffs, and Smith was issued a citation while Campbell was briefly handcuffed as well before all parties were allowed to move on.
SLATER SCOOP: Tyreek Hill body-cam video from Miami-Dade Police. pic.twitter.com/aJvD4SamZk
— Andy Slater (@AndySlater) September 9, 2024
Hill’s comments on Wednesday echo the statement released on his behalf by his attorney, Julius Collins, demanding that Torres be relieved of his duties.
“Each action that a law enforcement official takes is governed by standard operating procedures,” the statement read, per ESPN’s Marcel Louis-Jacques. “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.”
The police union that works with the Miami-Dade PD released a statement earlier this week saying that Hill was “uncooperative” with officers during the traffic stop, which led to the escalation of the incident. Louis-Jacques noted that attorneys representing Torres released a statement on Monday calling for their client’s “immediate reinstatement” and calling the decision to place him on administrative leave “premature.”
For now, the officer remains on paid leave.
As for Hill and the Dolphins, they will host the Buffalo Bills in Week 2 on Thursday Night Football.
