Tyreek Hill slapped with careless driving and seatbelt violation citations in Miami-Dade incident

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill was cited for "careless driving" and a seat belt violation during a traffic stop before Sunday’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The incident, which occurred on westbound Northwest 199 Street, resulted in Hill being pulled over, handcuffed, and issued two citations.

The Miami-Dade Police Department released details of the citations on Tuesday, September 12, and also identified the officer involved following the release of bodycam footage that captured the tense interaction between Hill and law enforcement.

The footage showed Hill being taken out of his vehicle and handcuffed on the ground.

What did Tyreek Hill's citations reveal?

The careless driving citation, which was posted by ESPN's Jeff Darlington, detailed the allegations against Tyreek Hill.

The citation stated that Hill was driving at a “high rate of speed visual estimation 60 mph” in a 40 mph zone.

It also mentioned that he was "not wearing a seatbelt." According to the citation, Hill was observed in an area with "high traffic of pedestrians and vehicles." 

Hill was found to violate Florida statute 316.1925 which defines careless driving.

The statute states, "Any person operating a vehicle upon the streets or highways within the state shall drive the same in a careful and prudent manner... Failure to drive in such manner shall constitute careless driving and a violation of this section," reports Fox News.

The penalties for Hill’s alleged violations include $179 for careless driving and $129 for failing to wear a seatbelt, as per the citations signed by Officer M Batista, badge No 9771, NBC News notes.

Did Tyreek Hill dispute the seatbelt violation?

During the traffic stop, Tyreek Hill was accused of not wearing his seatbelt, but he later told NBC News that he was wearing it before the officer approached.

"I was wearing my seatbelt while driving and then took it off as I was being pulled over," Hill said. Despite this claim, the citation noted that Hill was not wearing his seatbelt when the officer approached his 2018 black McLaren.

 

The Dolphins star also expressed frustration over how quickly the situation escalated.

"It just went from 0 to 60, man, from the moment that those guys pulled up behind me, knocked on my window, it went from 0 to 60 immediately," Hill said. He added that he remained cooperative during the stop and called team security from his vehicle.

What actions have been taken against the police officer for 'mistreating' Tyreek Hill?

Following the outrage over how officers behaved with Tyreek Hill, the Miami-Dade Police Department announced an initial investigation and put an officer involved on administrative leave on September 9.

 

On Tuesday, September 9, the officer involved in Hill's detainment was identified as Danny Torres.

Torres, a 27-year veteran of the force, is currently under investigation by internal affairs, the department confirmed in a statement to the publication.

The Miami Dolphins have criticized the way the situation was handled, calling Hill's detainment "despicable behavior" and an example of "misguided power."

Meanwhile, Manuel Morales, the chief of police for the Miami Police Department, released a statement on the incident.

"The body-worn camera depicting the interaction between members of the Miami Dade Police and Mr Hill is hard to watch, but it’s a reminder that we must always strive to do better," Morales said.

 

"Despite no city of Miami Police involvement, I pray we can move forward and use this incident to forge a stronger partnership between our professional athletes, the community, and the brave men and women who are sworn to protect us all. When we work together, we all win," Morales said.