Video: Cop Threatens to Bust Tyreek Hill’s Window Before Handcuffing

More than 24 hours have passed since a handful of motorcycle cops from the Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD) handcuffed and briefly detained Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill outside Hard Rock Stadium ahead of the team's season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

MDPD director Stephanie V. Daniels was quick to promise updates on the situation. But the only publicly announced development so far was a follow-up statement from Daniels announcing that one of the officers involved had been placed on administrative leave.

The department has yet to release body-cam footage of the incident, citing an ongoing internal affairs investigation.

But in the hours after the officers cited Hill for careless driving and a seatbelt violation, bystanders posted cell phone videos of the confrontation that reveal some notable moments.

One video shows an officer knocking on Hill's driver-side window.

"Keep your window down," the officer says, making the universal motion for "roll down your window." "Keep your window down or I'm gonna get you out of the car."

Seconds later, after Hill partially lowers the window, the officer appears to change his mind. "As a matter of fact, get out of the car," he says. "Get out of the car. Get out of the car right now. We're not playing this game. Get out."

A fellow officer then approaches Hill's car and interjects, "[Unintelligible] I'll break that fucking window."

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In a subsequent clip, Hill can be seen standing with several officers when one abruptly approaches him, grabs him from behind, and appears to take him to the ground.

🚨NEW FOOTAGE: A POLICE OFFICER RANDOMLY HIT #NFL STAR TYREEK HILL, WHO APPEARS TO BE COMPLYING WITH THEIR ORDERS.

😳

JUST AN AWFUL LOOK.
pic.twitter.com/KKNRhZwfup

— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) September 8, 2024

In another clip, an MDPD officer pins Hill facedown on the pavement with his knee on the wide receiver's back as three of his colleagues stand nearby. One officer can be heard telling Hill, "When we tell you to do something, you do it. You understand?" Then he adds, "You’re a little fucking confused."

Tyreek Hill should not have been forcibly driven to the ground, handcuffed and handled so aggressively for a minor traffic violation heading into the stadium before the game. Period. @cheetah pic.twitter.com/Gnu1mrIuUD

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) September 8, 2024

As news broke of Hill's detainment, the Dolphins said Hill was pulled over for a traffic incident a block from the stadium and was briefly detained but has since been released.

"Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support," the team said in a statement. "Tyreek and all other players involved here have safely arrived to the stadium and will be available for today's game."

Videos from the scene show Miami-Dade police officers handcuffing the star receiver next to his black sports car. He is seen facedown on the roadway and later sitting on the curb in cuffs. 

Video of Tyreek Hill’s arrest today: pic.twitter.com/Kope2Ma6tk

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 8, 2024

At kickoff time, MDPD tweeted a statement from director Stephanie V. Daniels: "We are aware of the recent detainment of Miami Dolphins player Tyreek Hill by Miami-Dade Police Department officers. I have requested an immediate review of all details surrounding the incident, and we are also reviewing available body-camera footage. We will provide updates as further information becomes available."

Hill took the field as scheduled, and his performance did not appear to have been affected by the pregame altercation. He gained 130 yards on seven receptions, including an 80-yard catch for a touchdown, in the Dolphins' 20-17 season-opening victory over the Jaguars. After the touchdown, Hill put his hands behind his back as if he was in handcuffs and his teammate Jaylen Waddle led him off the field.
Shortly after the game concluded, MDPD took to social media for a second time: "Following the incident involving Tyreek Hill, I have initiated an Internal Affairs investigation to ensure a thorough review of the matter," reads the second statement from Daniels. "One of the officers involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duties while the investigation is conducted. I'm committed to transparency and accountability to the community with any situation involving my officers."

Additionally, though MDPD made no mention of it, Dolphins defensive lineman Calais Campbell told reporters after the game that he also had been cuffed after he attempted to come to the defense of his teammate and, he said, "tried to de-escalate the situation." Campbell said his alleged offense was disobeying a police officer's direct order.

“For him to put handcuffs on me, I felt some type of way. But that just goes to show how resilient we are. We didn't let that stop us.”

1-on-1 with Dolphins DL Calais Campbell on @nflnetwork @NFLGameDay: pic.twitter.com/Q9aUOAoM9E

— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) September 8, 2024

Before the game, Hill's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told ESPN NFL reporter Jeff Darlington that he is deeply concerned and troubled by what transpired.

"Apparently, he got a ticket for a moving violation entering the stadium," Rosenhaus said. "How things escalated into the situation they were in, handcuffs, and being held on the ground by police is mind-boggling to me. I am deeply concerned by that. Very troubled. We will be looking into it."

Additional reporting by Alex DeLuca