The brother of a Miami-Dade police officer involved in the detainment of Tyreek Hill is calling his brother an “excellent cop” and pinning the blame squarely on the NFL star for the chaotic situation that occurred on Sunday ahead of the Dolphins’ season opener at Hard Rock Stadium.
David Torres, the brother of Danny “Dano” Torres, spoke with the Daily Mail in defense of his sibling, who was the officer seen on body camera pulling Hill out of his car after he had failed to comply with an order to roll his window back down.
The officer has been put on administrative duties while an internal affairs investigation is being conducted.
Tyreek Hill is forced to the ground after being handcuffed and led to the sidewalk by Miami-Dade Police Department officers in Miami, Florida, September 8, 2024 in a still image from police body camera video. via REUTERS
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is forced from his vehicle by Miami-Dade Police Department officers in Miami, Florida, September 8, 2024 in a still image from police body camera video. via REUTERS
But David Torres told the outlet that if Hill had complied the situation wouldn’t have transpired the way it did.
He also said Hill “disrespected” the officers during the encounter.
“If you watch the video, he did not follow instructions from the get-go. He was yelling at the officer and telling him not to bang on his window,” David Torres said. “If you know anything about dealing with police officers, you know do not raise your window on them. “The officers have every right to keep themselves safe. And that’s exactly what happened.
“They were keeping themselves safe.”
Hill has admitted this week that he “could have been better” during the encounter, but still stood firm that it didn’t give the officers the right to “literally beat the dog out of me.”
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is handcuffed after being forced from his vehicle by Miami-Dade Police Department officers in Miami, Florida, September 8, 2024 in a still image from police body camera video. via REUTERS
Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill is forced to the ground after being handcuffed and led to the sidewalk by Miami-Dade Police Department officers in Miami, Florida, September 8, 2024. Miami-Dade Police Department
“At the end of the day, I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently,” Hill said during a news conference.
The Dolphins receiver could be seen in the body cam footage refusing to roll down his window after appearing to hand the officer his license.
Tyreek Hill is handcuffed after being forced from his vehicle by Miami-Dade Police Department officers in Miami, Florida, September 8, 2024. via REUTERS
This body cam image released by the Miami-Dade Police Department shows Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill being arrested during a traffic stop, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024. AP
When he was ordered out of the vehicle and did not comply fast enough to the officers’ liking, Torres opened the car door, pulled Hill out of the vehicle and put the receiver face down on the ground.
Later, Torres could be heard chastising Hill as he was trying to tell the officer that he just had surgery on his knee.
“Did you have surgery on your ears when we told you to put your window down,” the officer screamed at Hill.
David Torres described his brother — a 27-year veteran of the MDPD — as “charismatic” and “very likable.”
“He’s got a strong character but you have to have one to be a South Florida cop for so long,” he explained. “He’s just a straightforward, black-and-white kind of person. I don’t mean anything racial by that, I mean that he does things by the book. I think he is an excellent cop. I don’t see any reason why he shouldn’t be reinstated.”
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill speaks to journalists following a team practice, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2024 AP
David Torres also said the tinted window that Hill had on his car was illegal.
However, the citations given to Hill did not include any for his window tint.
Tinted windows are legal in the state of Florida but come with restrictions.
Danny Torres’ attorneys have said in a previous statement that he should be reinstated.
