Video shows police dragging WR Tyreek Hill out of car after he rolled back the window; Dolphins release statement

A police officer dragged Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill from his sports car by his arm and head and then pushed him face first to the ground after Hill opened the window of his sports car during a traffic stop before Sunday's game, according to body camera video released Monday.

The video showed that the altercation between Miami-Dade County officers and Hill escalated quickly. Officers verbally abused Hill, but he did not resist their physical force or hit them. Bodycam videos from six officers were released.

Police Director Stephanie Davis said the tape would not normally be released while the investigation is ongoing, but she wanted to demonstrate the department's “commitment to transparency and maintaining public trust.”

The Dolphins released a statement on the incident, expressing regret for the conduct of Hill and his teammates Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith and calling for “tough action against the officials involved.”

“We are saddened by the overly aggressive and violent behavior of police officers toward Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith prior to yesterday's game,” the statement said. “It is both upsetting and heartbreaking to see the very people we trust to protect our community use such unnecessary violence and hostility toward these players. But it is also a reminder that not every situation like this ends peacefully, and we are grateful that this situation did. 'What if I wasn't Tyreek Hill?' is a question that will resonate powerfully.”

“We are proud of our strong and positive relationship with the Miami-Dade Police Department and other law enforcement agencies and recognize that the vast majority of officers serve the community with the utmost integrity and a desire to protect all citizens. However, as is evident in the videos released tonight, there are some officers who confuse their responsibility and obligation to serve with misguided power. While we commend the MDPD for taking the proper and necessary action to quickly release this footage, we also call on them to take equally swift and decisive action against the officers who engaged in such despicable conduct.

“We will stand by Tyreek and our players as they seek to use their platform and this situation to make a positive impact on our community. We have always believed that football has a unique power to bring people together and we remain hopeful that through the collective work of the players, the organization and our community partners, we can create lasting change.”

A video showed the motorcycle cop who stopped Hill on the road to Hard Rock Stadium apparently already punching or banging on the window of Hill's McClaren sports car.

The officer looked in and demanded to know why Hill was not wearing a seat belt. Hill said to the officer through the open window, “Don't do my window like that.”

“Why did you hang it up?” the officer replied.

“Do what you have to do,” Hill said, rolling back up the dark-tinted window.

“Keep the window down,” the officer said, tapping on the window. The officer paused for about five seconds and looked around. He again told Hill to keep the window down or “I'm going to get you out of the car. So, get out of the car.”

The officer then ordered Hill to open the door. Another officer approached and said, “Get out of the car or I'm going to break the… window,” using an obscenity.

The door opened and the second officer reached in and grabbed Hill by the arm and the back of the head as the player said, “I'm out.”

The second officer pinned Hill face-first to the ground. Officers forced Hill's arms behind his back as Hill screamed into his cellphone, “I'm under arrest, Drew.” It was unclear if he was speaking to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus, or the team's director of security, Drew Brooks. Both soon arrived on the scene.

The officers handcuff Hill and one presses his knee into the middle of his back. “If we tell you what to do, do it.”

“Take me to jail, brother, do what you have to do,” Hill replied.

“We do,” said the officer who pulled him out.

“You’re crazy,” Hill told the officer.

Then the officers drag him to his feet and Hill asks: “Why are you banging on my window like crazy?”

Officers stopped Hill and led him to the sidewalk. An officer ordered him to sit on the curb. Hill told the officer he had just had surgery on his knee.

The officer who pulled Hill from the car jumped behind him and placed a bar around Hill's chest or neck, pulling Hill into a sitting position.

“Relax, brother,” Hill told the officers.

At that point, Campbell parked his SUV in front of Hill's car, got out, and asked what was going on. Officers told Campbell to get back in his vehicle and drive away. They then told him they would give him a ticket for blocking the road. He, too, was soon handcuffed. He was never cited.

Hill and Campbell were eventually released and allowed to enter the stadium.

Steadman Stahl, president of the South Florida Police Benevolent Association, defended the officer's actions, saying Monday that Hill “was briefly detained to protect the officer after he drove in a manner that placed himself and others in grave danger.”

“After being stopped, Mr. Hill did not immediately cooperate with the police officers on the scene, who handcuffed him in accordance with regulations and for their immediate safety. Mr. Hill, still not cooperating, refused to sit on the ground and was therefore ordered back to the ground.”

“Mr. Hill understands the inherently dangerous nature of the job entrusted to law enforcement and knows that officer safety is important,” Collins' statement said, “however, at no time did Mr. Hill pose a threat to those officers.”

Campbell said he tried to de-escalate the situation. He got out of his car with his hands up and walked to the scene, telling officers he was a friend of Hill. He stayed at the scene to “support” Hill. Police later handcuffed him for “disobeying a direct order” by getting too close.

“They tried to pull him to the ground,” Campbell said Monday on ESPN. “I saw them kicking him and pulling him to the ground … I feel like a cop was pushing on his head.”

Campbell said Smith and future receiver Odell Beckham were also there to support Hill, who kept telling them, “Don't leave me.”

Hill, 30, who is black, wondered what would have become of him if he wasn't an NFL star. Some of his teammates, who are also black, said they are used to this type of interaction.

“Excessive force against a black man is not uncommon,” said safety Jevon Holland. “It's a very normal thing in America. So I think this needs to be addressed on a national level.”

Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said Monday he was shaken by the situation. McDaniel appeared to fight back tears as he reflected on the incident.

“It's probably more instinctive because yes, I spend a lot of time prioritizing empathy, and when you know you can't really understand, the unknown is what weighs me down,” McDaniel said. “I can only make predictions, and so my prediction is: What if it's worse?”

Hill received two summonses but was never arrested. One officer was placed on leave.