A Miami police officer involved in a confrontation with NFL star Tyreek Hill is fighting for his job, as the player’s agent calls for the officers involved to be dismissed.
The officer, who is currently on administrative duty, was involved in a heated altercation with Tyreek Hill, which was captured on body camera footage and has since gone viral.
Attorneys representing the officer, Ignacio Alvarez of ALGO Law Firm and Israel Reyes of The Reyes Law Firm, released a statement on Monday asking for their client’s “immediate reinstatement.” They described the decision to place the officer on administrative leave as “premature” but backed a full investigation.
The lawyers did not comment on whether their statement was prepared before or after the footage became public. They urged restraint from all parties in making statements that could mislead the public about the incident.
Tyreek Hill’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, took a hard stance during an appearance on The Dan Le Batard Show, saying the officers involved should lose their jobs.
“For me, personally, I think the officers should be fired,” Rosenhaus stated. “One officer kicked Tyreek, another put him in a chokehold. That’s unacceptable. Tyreek wasn’t aggressive, and there was no reason to treat him that way. It was inhumane.”
Although Rosenhaus didn’t confirm if Hill shared his opinion, he said he planned to discuss it with Tyreek Hill and his lawyer, Julius Collins.
The incident occurred just hours before the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when Tyreek Hill was pulled over for speeding near Hard Rock Stadium. According to the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, Hill was “uncooperative,” which allegedly escalated the situation.
Body camera footage released Monday shows Hill being forcibly removed from his car after a brief verbal exchange with an officer. Another officer then forced him to the ground, kneeling on his back while handcuffing him. Hill received traffic tickets for careless driving and a seatbelt violation.
Dolphins teammates Jonnu Smith and Calais Campbell arrived on the scene during Hill’s detainment. Both players were also briefly detained, with Smith receiving a citation. Campbell, known for his humanitarian work and as a Walter Payton Man of the Year winner, was released after what he described as a misunderstanding.
“Not the man of the year?” Anthony Weaver, the Dolphins’ defensive coordinator, cracked a joke while speaking to the media. “I’m surprised they even had cuffs that fit him.”
Tyreek Hill expressed confusion during several television interviews on Monday night, saying he didn’t understand why the officers treated him “like a threat.” He is expected to address the media on Wednesday.
