(Reuters) – Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill did not cooperate with police during a traffic stop ahead of his team’s home game on Sunday, leading officers to handcuff and place him on the ground, a union representing the Miami-Dade officers said.
Hill, who led Miami in receiving yards last season, was stopped near the Dolphins’ stadium for driving in a manner that was “putting himself and others in great risk of danger,” but was never placed under arrest, the union said.
“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,” Steadman Stahl, the president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, said in a statement.
“Mr. Hill, sill 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.”
Video of the incident showed the 30-year-old Hill placed face down on the road while handcuffed. The five-time All-Pro wide receiver said after his team’s 20-17 victory that he had obeyed the officers’ orders.
The Miami-Dade Police Department has opened an Internal Affairs investigation into the matter and one of the officers involved in the incident has been placed on administrative duties while the review is conducted.
Stahl said the union would wait for the investigation to run its course but, based on the information available, the union was standing by the actions of its officers.
The Dolphins and the NFL did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Monday.
Hill, who finished Sunday’s opener with a team-high seven catches for 130 yards, celebrated his touchdown by putting his hands behind his back to simulate being handcuffed.
(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Stephen Coates)
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