Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce has spoken out on the detainment of Dolphins player Tyreek Hill by Miami police – and his following touchdown celebration.
Hill, 30, was pinned down and placed in handcuffs after being pulled over for ‘reckless driving’ while traveling to the Dolphins’ season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars in shocking scenes Sunday.
The wide receiver was released shortly after and eventually made his way to the Hard Rock Stadium where he suited up for the Dolphins, scoring a touchdown during the 20-17 Week 1 victory, which he celebrated by performing a handcuffed gesture.
Kelce suggested the ordeal fueled the wideout’s performance on the football field as he addressed the incident during the latest episode of his New Heights podcast with brother Jason Kelce.
‘I was watching that Miami Dolphins game just waiting for Tyreek Hill to go for 300 yards and five touchdowns knowing what happened earlier in the day,’ he said Wednesday.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce (L) has spoken out on the detainment of Tyreek Hill (R)
30-year-old Hill was dragged from his car and placed in handcuffs on Sunday
‘And sure enough, finally in the fourth quarter when I think Jacksonville had just fumbled the ball, literally the next play they go up top to Tyreek Hill and he has this fun touchdown celebration… you can lock me up all you want, baby!’
Shocking videos showed Hill being handcuffed and restrained on the floor after he was stopped for speeding, while one officer even appeared to strike him on the sidewalk.
As he was violently apprehended by police, several of Hill’s teammates pulled over to try to deescalate the situation, only for defensive tackle Calais Campbell to briefly be placed in handcuffs himself.
One of the officers involved in the incident – later named as veteran officer Danny Torres – has been placed on administrative leave amid an investigation by the Miami-Dade Police Department, who have released bodycam footage of Hill’s detainment.
In the astonishing footage, which emerged earlier this week, cops could be heard telling Hill to ‘stop crying’ while the NFL star said: ‘Take me to jail… do what you have to do.’
On Tuesday, the police citations claimed Hill was stopped because he was believed to be driving 60mph – without wearing a seatbelt. He was fined a combined total of $308.
The wide receiver was pinned to the floor by officers ahead of the Dolphins’ season opener
Hill performed a handcuff gesture to celebrate scoring a touchdown during Miami’s win
On Monday night, the Dolphins described the bodycam video as ‘both maddening and heartbreaking’.
The team vowed to stand with Hill and called for ‘swift and strong action’ against the officers guilty of ‘overly aggressive’, ‘violent’ and ‘despicable’ behavior.
Over the weekend, Miami-Dade Police revealed that a cop – who was later named as veteran officer Danny Torres – has been placed on administrative duties pending an internal investigation.
Hill’s agent and his teammate Jalen Ramsey have both called for the cops involved to be fired over their treatment of the NFL star.
