Tyreek Hill admits he could have 'been better' but still wants officer who handcuffed him fired

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Tyreek Hill admitted that he should have acted differently before the police officers brutally pinned him to the ground during a traffic stop on Sunday, September 8.

The Miami Dolphins player was asked on Wednesday, September 11, if he believed he could have cooperated more with police after the bodycam video of the incident emerged.

He responded, "I have thought about it. My whole life is all about accountability. How can I get better?"

Tyreek Hill admits he could 'have been better'

"I have family members who are cops. We've had conversations. Yes, I will say I could have been better. I could have let down my window in that instant," Tyreek Hill said, per Daily Mail.

"The thing about me is I don't want attention. I don't want to be cameras out, phones on you in that moment. But at the end of the day I am human, I have got to follow rules and do what everyone else would do," he continued.

"Now, does that give them the right to literally beat the dog out of me? Absolutely not. But at the end of the day I wish I could go back and do things a bit differently," Hill added.

Tyreek Hill expresses admiration for the cops 

"We have an influence on the community. I don't think we should use this as a moment to separate people or divide people, or make it a battle," Hill stated. "I still love cops. I want to be a cop. I've been standing on a table for the cops. At the end of the day, right now I'm focusing on my job, playing football." 

"I've been praying a lot with my wife. Having conversations with my mom a lot. The biggest thing for me is making sure I am alright and my family have been doing a great job on that," Hill added. "I went to the grocery store last night and my wife called me literally 10 times. It's crazy."

Tyreek Hill was in a movie theater when the bodycam footage was released

"I was in the movie theater when they released the bodycam, watching Beetlejuice. When I saw it, for me I felt like I handled myself well in that situation but like I say, I can be better," Hill revealed. "But it's shell-shocking, man. It is really crazy to know you have officers in this world who would literally do that when the bodycam is on. It is sad. What would they do if they didn't have bodycams? "

He added, "It is a lot to unpack, it is a lot we can learn. In football, how we get better from things is we watch the tape and we get better. This instance, we should do the same

Dolphins coach stresses seriousness of violent arrest

Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel acknowledged that Tyreek Hill could have acted differently with authorities before his violent arrest on Sunday.

However, McDaniel also emphasized to reporters on Tuesday that this does not make Hill’s violent encounter with Miami-Dade police any less concerning.

"It wasn't shock," McDaniel told reporters on Tuesday when asked about his reaction to the police footage of the violent incident. "It was sadness."

"There are always things you can do differently," McDaniel said, agreeing that Hill could have acted differently. "That's a totally separate conversation," he added, "But for sure."

He also noted that he has seen Hill’s personal growth despite the circumstances. "Tyreek is a different human being than when I first met him," McDaniel told reporters. "He continues to evolve... You are held accountable for the things that people know. Sometimes when you're taking a step forward, there's another step back."

Tyreek Hill receives citations for careless driving following arrest

Tyreek Hill received citations for careless driving and failing to wear a seatbelt after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by police on his way to the team's game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The receiver’s car door was opened by Officer Danny Torres, who roughly detained him before pushing him to the ground. According to police footage, Hill struggled to follow orders.

Tyreek Hill calls for the firing of Danny Torres

Tyreek Hill has since called for the dismissal of Officer Danny Torres, who has been placed on leave. Hill believes there should be greater consequences for the "excessive" force used against him.

"After a careful and thorough review of the multiple body cameras and concern citizens' videos that captured the unfortunate events that transpired on Sunday, September 8, 2024, between several officers of the Miami Dade Police Department and Tyreek Hill, we are demanding for the immediate termination of the officer that has been placed on administrative leave," Hill said in a statement via attorney Julius B Collins.

Several of Hill's teammates pulled over in an attempt to defuse the situation as he was being forcibly arrested by police. Defensive tackle Calais Campbell was briefly handcuffed during the incident.

The NFL player yelled, "Take me to jail... do what you have to do," as police told him to "stop crying" in the startling video that surfaced earlier this week.

Hill was reportedly pulled over on Tuesday for speeding at sixty miles per hour and not wearing a seatbelt, according to the police citations. He was assessed a total of $308 in fines.

Danny Torres reportedly placed his hands around Tyreek Hill's neck 

"On at least two occasions, the escalating officer placed his hands on or around Mr Hill's neck during the traffic stop. After Mr Hill was forcefully pulled out of his vehicle by this officer was then forcefully put face down on the pavement," Hill's statement from his attorney noted.

"The officer then placed his knee in Mr Hill's back and his hand around the back of Mr Hill's neck. Once Mr Hill was placed in handcuffs and standing on the sidewalk, after being told to sit down, Mr Hill notified the requesting officer of his intent to do so and there again, the same officer as before grabbed Mr Hill from behind and forced him down to the ground. While doing so, the officer then again placed his hand on or around Mr Hill's neck," the statement added. 

"Even while Mr Hill was advising the officer that he had a procedure done on his knee, the officer ignored his statement and continued his escalation in his use of force. Each action that a law enforcement official take is governed by standard operation procedures. We are of the opinion that the officers' use of force was excessive, escalating, and reckless. We are demanding that the officer be terminated effective immediately," the statement concluded.