Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill and his attorney, Julius B. Collins, plan to plead not guilty to two traffic tickets Hill received after a confrontation with police Sunday, Collins told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview Friday.
Hill was issued tickets for reckless driving and not wearing a seat belt after being pulled over for a traffic violation on Sunday, and widely circulated footage showed him arguing with police before being removed from his car, handcuffed and thrown to the ground.
Earlier body camera footage showed two Miami-Dade County Police officers parked their car in the middle of the highway as Hill's vehicle drove past at an apparently rapid rate of speed.
The video shows Hill in the left lane when he passes officers. Officers then begin pursuing Hill, who is then seen merging into other lanes and passing several other vehicles.
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The next time his vehicle was seen, he was in the right lane, at which point he was pulled over and an officer cited Hill for speeding.
Collins believes he should sue because the video didn't have any evidence, like a radar gun, that would show Hill's exact speed.
“He was guessing how fast he was going,” Collins said. “I've heard of pacing. I've heard of laser radar. But I've never heard of actually looking at someone and guessing.”
“At this stage we have no information as to whether laser radar or anything else was used or whether the defendant was pacing the defendant, so of course he will plead not guilty.”
Collins said he may change his plea later depending on the evidence.
Tyreek Hill claims officers 'tried to get me to do something' during arrest
“That could change in the future based on what's in the official incident and police reports, so it's still subject to change,” Collins said.
Body camera footage shows the first thing the officer said to Hill as he approached his car was, “Why aren't you wearing your seat belt?”
The video does not show whether Hill had her seat belt fastened at the moment the officer says this. Later in the video, Hill is seen unbuckling her seat belt and closing the tinted windows. Below, with the view of the obscured window, Hill is seen refastening her seat belt after the officer says, “Keep the window up.”
Image from body camera footage from a traffic stop involving Tyreek Hill. (Miami-Dade Police Department)
“There's nothing,” Collins said. “There's nothing in the official police report as to why he pleaded guilty, whether he was wearing his seat belt or anything like that. At one point it was visibly clear that Mr. Hill was not wearing his seat belt.”
“Was it when he was stopped for a traffic violation? It can be taken off at that point, before the officer gets to the car. We don't have that information. So, of course, he's going to maintain his innocence until we see the police report.”
When asked whether Hill told Collins to wear a seat belt while driving, Collins declined to answer, citing attorney-client privilege.
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The video eventually showed Hill being handcuffed and thrown to the ground.
When the officer ordered Hill to exit the vehicle, the wide receiver said, “I'm getting out. I'm getting out.” When the officer opened the door and let Hill out, the wide receiver said, “I'm getting out.”
Another officer then grabbed Hill around the back of his head and neck, forced him to the sidewalk and handcuffed him.
Hill was released about 25 minutes after Deputy Drew Rosenhaus arrived, after which he can be heard telling officers “I'll see you in court” before returning to his car.
Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill warms up before a game against the Buffalo Bills, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
Hill has since called for the firing of the officer who handcuffed him, Danny Torres, a 27-year veteran of the police force.
Torres has since been placed on administrative leave. The Miami-Dade police chief placed her on paid administrative leave after Torres said she had reviewed the officers' body camera footage from that day. Torres' lawyers He told Fox News Digital They are demanding that the officer be reinstated immediately.
“As Director Daniels has argued, we seek immediate reinstatement of our clients and a full, thorough and objective investigation. Our clients will not comment until this investigation is concluded and the facts are fully known,” the lawyers said in a statement.
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