ESPN star Stephen A. Smith suggested that Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill was not blameless during the situation with police officers in Florida that led to his arrest.
The Miami-Dade Police Department released body camera footage of Hill's arrest, showing the intense moments from when officers initiated a traffic stop to when Hill was pulled from the car and handcuffed while on the ground near Hard Rock Stadium.
Smith weighed in on the situation, saying neither the police officers involved nor Hill are immune from blame.
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Tyreek Hill in handcuffs. (Miami-Dade Police Department)
“As far as Tyreek Hill goes, we can't let him off the hook based on the statement that the Florida police department made, either,” Smith said Tuesday on ESPN's “First Take.” “They said he was 'uncooperative.' We have a responsibility on this show and any kind of platform we can make to make sure we're doing everything we can to save lives, to make sure we're doing what we can to make sure that somehow, some way, you can live another day and fight that battle. We know how wrong they were. The police were over the top. There are no excuses. They should be ashamed of themselves, the way they acted. They just crossed the line. Absolutely true.
“Here's the thing: We all went on the air and watched the initial footage in full, unabashed support of Tyreek Hill. You pull over and they tell you to roll your window down. What's the first thing Shannon (Sharpe) just said? The first thing they do when they pull us over. You pull me over with all the windows down. I've got my hands on the wheel. That's not what Tyreek Hill did.
“Tyreek Hill had his window up. The officer knocks on his window. He didn't knock on his window, he knocked on his window. You hesitate to roll it down. The first thing you say is, 'Don't knock on my window like that. ' He asked for your driver's license. You hesitated to give him your driver's license. You said in the postgame conference call, 'Hey, what if I wasn't Tyreek Hill? ' What if you weren't Tyreek Hill? What would have happened to you if somebody other than Tyreek Hill kept their windows up, hesitated to roll them down, didn't immediately give them their license when asked for it, and then hesitated to get out of the car when they told you to get out of the car?
Stephen A. Smith during the NBA Draft – First Round on June 26, 2024, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. (Kostas Lymperopoulos/NBAE via Getty Images)
DOLPHINS DEMAND PUNISHMENT FOR OFFICERS INVOLVED IN TYREEK HILL'S ARREST
“Look, we have to be accountable. My point is that in no way should the officers be excused for what they did… But I'm also saying, 'Hey, Tyreek, hey, bro, you didn't deserve this. I'm not implying that you did. But police officers do have power. When they pull you over and tell you to roll down your window, give them your license and get out of the car, that's what you need to do.'”
Hill told CNN on Monday night that he feared for his life in the incident, but hoped to be a part of making a difference.
Dolphins' Tyreek Hill stands on the sideline during the national anthem before the Buffalo Bills game at Hard Rock Stadium on January 7, 2024, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Perry Knotts/Getty Images)
Drew Rosenhaus, the NFL wide receiver's agent, appeared on “The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz” and said his client was looking to have a discussion with Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels.
“Tyreek told me that as traumatic as this event was, he wants to take the negative and turn it into something positive,” Rosenhaus said.
Daniels placed an officer involved in the incident on “administrative duty.”
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The officers' lawyers asked for their client's reinstatement.
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