MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – The Miami-Dade Police Department placed a police officer on administrative leave pending the results of an investigation into the detention on Sunday of Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who police officers handcuffed outside of the Hard Rock Stadium.
The South Florida Police Benevolent Association president Steadman Stahl released a statement Monday that stated Hill was never under arrest during his encounter with Miami-Dade police.
“He [Hill] was briefly detained for officer safety, after driving in a manner in which he was putting himself and others in great risk of danger,” Stahl wrote. “Upon being stopped, Mr. Hill was not immediately cooperative with the officers on scene who, pursuant to policy and for their immediate safety, placed Mr. Hill in handcuffs.”
During the game, Hill shined with an 80-yard touchdown catch. He placed his hands behind his back while celebrating the score. After the game, Hill said it was a planned celebration. When asked about his detention, he said, “What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill?”
Hill said he was careful when he stopped and kept his hands on the wheel before Miami-Dade police officers told him he was stopped for speeding and accused him of reckless driving. He said he had no idea why police put him in handcuffs.
“I wasn’t disrespectful ... because my mom didn’t raise me that way, didn’t curse, none of that,” Hill said.
Hill said he wants to turn his experience into something positive. Director Stephanie V. Daniels released a statement reporting she had initiated an internal investigation to thoroughly review the police officer’s actions during Hill’s detention.
“I’m committed to transparency and accountability to the community with any situation involving my officers,” Daniels said.
The Miami Dolphins also released a statement reporting police officers had pulled over Hill for a traffic incident about a block from the stadium after a witness’s video went viral on X and Instagram.
“Several teammates saw the incident and stopped to offer support,” the team’s spokesperson wrote in the statement.
The teammates included defensive tackle Calais Campbell, who said a police officer ordered him to stand back, accused him of disobeying a direct order, and handcuffed him.
“He said I was too close to the scene and then I think he said something about me not moving my car in time ... He told me later I could stay 25 feet away... and I was definitely 25 feet away when it happened,” Campbell said after the game.
The police officers let Hill and Campbell go. Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith said he also stopped to support Hill.
“I was checking on my teammate ... there were some words said. I wanted to make sure he was good ... just concerned about his safety,” Smith said. “Obviously, we all see the police brutality ... that goes on in this country ... and when you see your teammate possibly being a part of that ... you are doing everything in your power to help.”
Hill was later with his agent Drew Rosenhaus near a group of police officers on the sidewalk just outside the stadium. No one was injured. Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel said he was proud of Campbell and Smith for supporting their teammate.
“I am really just happy with the way our team came together when teammates were in need,” McDaniel said.
Hill also said he was glad his teammates intervened during the traffic stop and added that he has a “good” support system and he was able to pray with his family before the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Rosenhaus said it shouldn’t have happened.
“It certainly felt like he wasn’t treated fairly,” Rosenhaus said. “Things escalated out of control.”
Adam Schefter, a sports writer, and Jeff Darlington, of ESPN, also reported on the traffic citation.
“After he was pulled over, he got into a verbal altercation with police,” Darlington wrote on X. “The officer chose to place Hill in handcuffs. He was cited and released after the situation was de-escalated.”
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade Public Safety Chief James Reyes both released statements after the Miami Dolphins beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 20-17, and both commended Daniels for initiating the investigation.
“The internal review process will answer questions about why the troubling actions shown in public video footage were taken by the officer,” Levine Cava said. “We will continue to keep our community informed about this process and findings will be made available.”
Read the police union’s full statement below.
Local 10 News Assignment Desk Editors Joyce Grace Ortega and Mercedes Cevallos contributed to this report.