Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained by police for a traffic incident just hours before the start of the team’s 2024 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday.
The incident occurred near Hard Rock Stadium when Hill was pulled over for what was described as reckless driving and speeding.
This led to a verbal altercation with the police, resulting in Hill being handcuffed and placed face down on the ground – twice.
How the situation escalated from a reckless driving infraction into a forcible arrest with Hill handcuffed on the ground has yet to be revealed. One of the officers involved in the arrest was placed on administrative leave pending an investigation.
“That should tell you everything you need to know,” Hill told the NFL Network.
Video was posted to social media by ESPN senior NFL insider Adam Schefter.
Video of Tyreek Hill’s arrest today: pic.twitter.com/Kope2Ma6tk
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2024
RELATED: Football’s Most Prolific Fathers: Which NFL Player Has The Most Kids?
Tyreek Poked Fun At Police Arrest With Touchdown Celebration
Tyreek Hill, following the altercation with police, was released in time to play in the game, where he made significant contributions. To the tune of 7 catches for 130 yards.
Among those catches was an 80-yard touchdown reception that helped propel a Miami Dolphins rally after they trailed 17-7 at the half to the Jaguars.
The Dolphins would go on to win the game 20-17 thanks in large part to that momentum-swinging spectacular play.
Hill, who has never shied away from controversy, celebrated with a gesture showing his hands mockingly cuffed behind his back while a teammate detained him.
The look on this fan’s face shows you just how amazing the play – and the celebration – were.
Legendary photo of Tyreek Hill's TD celebration. pic.twitter.com/kpn0UeSNUv
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 8, 2024
You have to hand it to Tyreek Hill for poking a little fun at the police after his arrest, but the matter remains quite serious. On its surface, this arrest looks like a case of excessive force by the police.
Funny Celebration, But This Is A Serious Matter
As we noted, the Miami-Dade Police Department placed one of the involved officers on administrative leave pending an Internal Affairs investigation.
Hill himself expressed confusion over the severity of his treatment. He wonderied aloud about the implications if he weren’t a high-profile NFL player.
And naturally, it took all of a few minutes for ESPN character Stephen A. Smith to note that PGA golfer Scottie Scheffler’s arrest, while ultimately a case of police overreacting, didn’t result in one party ending up face down on the ground.
“This story with the police involving (Tyreek Hill) ain’t going away damnit. Traffic violation? Fine,” Smith wrote on X. “But WTH was he face down in cuffs, stood up, then the other officer runs over behind him and forces him to the ground again??? Hell No! Excessive! Wrong! Again, this ain’t going away.”
“Look for yourself. This is b.s. Totally unnecessary. And btw…., I know the Scottie Scheffler incident was in Georgia — not Florida — and he was arrested, detained, booked. I also know we don’t know all the details, blah….blah…..blah!” he added.
“But he wasn’t faced down on the ground in cuffs? Then forcibly sat down again by officers a second time. Nah! This story isn’t going away — and it doesn’t need to.”
It’ll depend on what videos surface prior to what has already been seen on social media. Many of Scheffler’s subsequent videos showed the golfer respectfully trying to explain his misunderstanding. Did Hill react the same way? Does it matter?
Right now it doesn’t look good for the officers involved.
Hill told CBS Sports he was just hoping he could let “bygones be bygones.”
More about:NFL