Tyreek Hill traffic stop takedown sparks accusations of racial bias
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Dolphins player Tyreek Hill is forced to the ground during a traffic stop. Screenshot: Miami-Dade Police body camera
The rough police takedown of Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill during a traffic stop Sunday focused national attention on the Miami-Dade Police Department, with some suggesting officers acted with racial bias against the Black athlete.
The big picture: Police in Miami-Dade have a long and troubled history with Black residents.
- In 1979, four white Metro-Dade police officers beat to death black insurance salesman Arthur McDuffie and were acquitted, setting off one of the area's deadliest riots.
- Police in Miami Beach have faced allegations of racism for use of force against Black tourists.
- A 2018 ACLU of Florida report found that Black defendants were overrepresented in Miami-Dade County's criminal justice system relative to their population share.
Flashback: Historian Marvin Dunn told the Miami Herald that he saw similarities between the McDuffie case and Hill's traffic stop.
- "Same scenario: Black man illegally stopped, handcuffed, on the ground, police officer standing over him – he could've died. If he would've shown any resistance, they could've beaten him."
- Both Dunn and Hill have referenced "the talk" that Black fathers often have with their children about how to act around police — no talking back, hands on the wheel, no sudden movements.
The latest: Miami-Dade Police yesterday released the name of the officer who took Hill to the ground, pinned him down with his knee and handcuffed him.
- Danny Torres, a 27-year veteran of the department, has since been reassigned to administrative duties.
Catch up quick: A routine traffic stop for speeding resulted in police handcuffing two Black Dolphins players and threatening a third with arrest.
- Body-camera footage shows police became angry with Hill after he handed an officer his ID and rolled up his tinted window.
- After the officer ordered him to exit his McLaren sports car, Torres grabbed Hill by the back of the head, pinned him face first into the ground and handcuffed him.
- Moments later, after Hill was asked to take a seat on the sidewalk, Torres grabbed him around the neck and forced him into a seated position.
Two other Dolphins, defensive tackle Calais Campbell and tight end Jonnu Smith, pulled over their vehicles to assist Hill but were threatened with arrest for not leaving the area.
- Torres also handcuffed Campbell.
- The lawyers representing Torres declined a comment to Axios beyond a statement calling for an objective investigation and their client's reinstatement.
- Ashley Airaghi, COO of the ALGO Law Firm, would only tell Axios that Torres is a Hispanic "minority."
Hill was cited for careless driving and not wearing a seatbelt.
- The incident report says an officer visually estimated Hill to be driving 60 mph in a 40 mph zone, per the Miami Herald.
What they're saying: While in handcuffs, Hill questioned whether his race was a factor in his treatment.
- "I'm just being a Black man, that's it. I'm just being Black in America, bruh."
- One of the officers, who was not Black, responded: "We're dark too brother, we're people of color, too. Don't play that stuff here."
Hill told CNN this week that one "bad apple" doesn't reflect on an entire department, but that he is brainstorming ways to use his platform to advocate for change.
- "If I wasn't Tyreek Hill, worst-case scenario, we would have had a different article — 'Tyreek Hill got shot in front of Hard Rock Stadium.' That's worst-case scenario," he told the outlet.
What's next: Miami Rep. Frederica Wilson and Rev. Al Sharpton Jr. will host a panel on policing in the Black community Friday that lists former Dolphins player Vernon Carey as a speaker.