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Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill had his traffic citations for careless driving and failure to wear a seatbelt dismissed after the officers who issued the tickets failed to attend a scheduled court hearing. The citations were originally issued after Hill was pulled over for speeding outside Hard Rock Stadium on September 8, just before the Dolphins' season opener. The situation escalated when an officer forcibly removed Hill from his McLaren sports car, pushed him to the ground, and handcuffed him.
Citations Dismissed Due to Officer Absence
The dismissal of the tickets occurred after the officers failed to appear in court on Monday. According to the Miami-Dade Police, the absence was an “oversight” and the department assured that the matter would be handled administratively. However, the police maintained that the citations did not lack merit, stating in a statement, “A citation dismissed due to this reason does not indicate that the citation held no merit.”
Hill expressed his reaction to the dismissal on social media, posting on the platform X, “Where all the internet cops now.”
Details of the September Altercation
The incident began when Hill, driving his McLaren, was pulled over by two motorcycle officers monitoring traffic near the stadium. Body camera footage from the encounter shows Hill speeding past the officers. The officers stopped Hill, and when one tapped on the car window, Hill handed over his driver’s license but was vocal in telling the officer, “Don’t knock on my window like that.” He then rolled his window up.
The exchange quickly escalated, with officers pulling Hill from the car and forcing him to the ground. Despite not resisting, Hill was physically restrained, and the officers used profanity during the confrontation. Hill, who later said he had a knee injury, was dragged into a sitting position on the curb after struggling to stand.
After approximately 30 minutes, Hill was issued the citations and allowed to enter the stadium for the game.
Internal Investigations and Reactions
Following the incident, one officer was placed on administrative duty, and an internal affairs investigation was launched. As of now, no findings have been publicly released from that investigation. In response to the dismissal of the citations, Hill’s legal team suggested that the absence of the officers was evidence of wrongdoing. They called for disciplinary action, stating, “Mr. Hill was entitled to have his day in court.”
Miami-Dade Police spokesman Andre Martin explained that the officer’s failure to attend the court hearing was due to “either forgetting or being involved in other duties that prevented him from attending.” Martin also noted that other cases had been dismissed for similar reasons.
An administrative review is still ongoing regarding the officer's failure to appear in court.
The Fallout and Hill’s Reaction
Hill was reportedly frustrated by the officers’ absence and suggested it indicated a lack of accountability. In his comments to ESPN, Hill’s lawyers said, “The absence of the officers evidences their knowledge of wrongdoing.” They continued to call for the officers to be disciplined for not attending the hearing.
The situation highlights the tension between Hill and law enforcement. Hill had previously expressed frustration with how the traffic stop was handled, particularly when he was forcibly removed from his car and physically restrained by the officers.
The Aftermath and Dolphins Victory
The altercation did not prevent Hill from playing in the season opener. He was eventually released and went on to play against the Jacksonville Jaguars later that day. The Dolphins won the game, and Hill scored a touchdown, which he humorously celebrated by pretending to be placed in handcuffs, in reference to his earlier experience with the officers.
As the internal investigations into the traffic stop and the officers’ failure to attend the court hearing continue, the fallout from the incident remains a point of contention for both Hill and the Miami-Dade Police.
