As can sometimes be the case with police-involved interactions, it takes two to tango. The president of South Florida’s police union claims that’s exactly what happened with Tyreek Hill this past weekend.
Reports surfaced recently showing Hill was cited for relatively mild traffic violations during an incident that ultimately ended with him in handcuffs face down on the pavement.
Videos show an aggressive response from officers considering the suspect in question was ultimately cited for a seat belt violation and speeding at 20 MPH or so above the posted limit. I say “or so” because he wasn’t clocked.
At the same time, Hill has not been entirely forthcoming with what really happened, insisting he was compliant even when the bodycam footage shows him scolding officers for tapping on his window.
Public sentiment seems to overwhelmingly support Tyreek Hill in this case. The Miami-Dade Police Department has said they are conducting an internal investigation into his detainment. One of the officers involved in the arrest was placed on administrative leave pending the outcome.
Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, is trying to offer some rationale as to why the situation became a complete mess.
Tyreek Hill Accused Of Not Being Cooperative
Stahl issued a statement in which he dismissed the notion that the Dolphins wideout had ever been placed under arrest and was instead handcuffed due to concerns from the officers about safety – theirs and his.
Tyreek Hill, he also alleges, was not “immediately cooperative”, actions which became a catalyst for the heightened response by police.
He said Hill was simply “redirected” to the ground when he did not listen to instructions.
“First, to be clear, at no time was he ever under arrest,” Stahl explained. “He was briefly detained for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger.”
“Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on the scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs,” he continued. “Mr. Hill, still uncooperative, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore redirected to the ground.”
“Once the situation was sorted out within a few minutes, Mr. Hill was issued two traffic citations and was free to leave.”
Hill Says He Wasn’t Raised Like That
Tyreek Hill has been playing up the controversy, insisting he had been cooperative all along and that he feared he might be shot during the altercation.
“I have no idea, for real,” Hill said following the game. “I wasn’t disrespectful because my mum didn’t raise me that way. Didn’t cuss. Didn’t do none of that. So like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”
Hill, in an interview with Lester Holt of NBC Nightly News, said the confrontation with police “went from 0 to 60”.
Would it have if he had simply been cooperative? Maybe not. Should things have gotten to the point they did? Probably not at all.
Contrary to whatever narrative initially emerges from this incident, there are several people that could have de-escalated the situation and prevented what ultimately took place.
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