On September 8, 2024, Tyreek Hill, the wide receiver for the Miami Dolphins, was detained for speeding.

Hill was stopped outside Hard Rock Stadium in Florida by Miami-Dade police for speeding. The stop that was initially for speeding, quickly led to an ongoing investigation into the conduct of the officer involved.

According to police citations, Hill was driving in his McLaren going approximately 60 mph in a 40 mph zone. Officer Danny Torres signaled Hills to pull over. With everything captured on camera, Hill was seen rolling up his window and showing signs of frustrations with the officer which led to Hill’s detainment.

Hill’s reactions were captured on camera with him telling the officer to ‘‘give me my ticket bro, so I can go,” rolling his window up right after. Hill was instructed to leave his window down, but refused. Officer Torres pulled Hill out of his McLaren, detaining him for over 25 minutes until Drew Rosenhaus, his agent, arrived at the scene.

In the aftermath of the entire incident, Hill spoke to NBC News and expressed the frustration and concerns he has.

“If I wasn’t Tyreek Hill, Lord knows, I probably would have been, like, worst-case scenario, I would have been shot or would have been locked up,” Hill stated. He also suggested that due to his celebrity status, he might’ve been treated differently.

Despite everything that had happened Sunday morning, Hill gave an outstanding performance on the field with the Miami Dolphins. He caught 7 passes for 130 yards, including a touchdown, helping with the 20-7 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Since the Tyreek Hill incident, the Miami-Dade Police Department has since launched an investigation into Officer Danny Torres. Torres has been with the department for 27 years and has been reassigned to
administrative duties while the investigation is undergoing.

“We will provide further information once it becomes available pending the outcome of the investigation,’ states a police spokesperson for the Miami-Dade Police Department.

But this isn’t Hill’s first rodeo with authorities.

Hill has a long history of trouble starting all the way back in College.

Just the Beginning

The beginning of Tyreek Hill’s football career began with him playing at Garden City Community College before he transferred to play at Oklahoma State University in 2014. That same year, he made his NFL debut with the Dallas Cowboys. Due to domestic assault charges against him, however, his time with the Sooners was short.

His girlfriend at the time, who was also pregnant with his child, Crystal Espinal, reported that Hill had choked and struck her in both the stomach and face, which raised health concerns over their unborn child.

Hill was dismissed from Oklahoma State’s football and track programs. His plea was originally not guilty, but he later admitted to the charges as a result of a plea agreement. Hill would go on to face three years of probation.

The probation also included anger management classes, fines, and participation in a Batterer’s Intervention Program.

Even More Chances

Even after Oklahoma State, Hill was given a second chance at a new school. He played for one season at West Alabama, before entering the NFL Draft in 2016.

His 4.25 second 40-yard dash caught the attention of NFL scouts. Hill was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Kansas City Chiefs.

The decision of Hill getting drafted was met with criticism from the media and sports fans. Chiefs’ management came to defend the choice by emphasizing the vetting process and commitment to community safety.

But in 2019, Hill’s was investigated by authorities for alleged child abuse that involved his son with Espinal.

The investigation alleged that the child had suffered a broken arm at the hands of Hill.

The investigation led to no criminal charges, but it did lead to concerns over Hill’s actions once more. Both Hill and Espinal lost custody over their child temporarily.

No suspension against Hill was made either. The NFL released a statement about Hill’s actions.

“Over the past four months, we have conducted a comprehensive investigation of allegations regarding Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Tyreek Hill. Throughout this investigation, the NFL’s primary concern has
been the well-being of the child. Our understanding is that the child is safe and that the child’s ongoing care is being directed and monitored by the Johnson County District Court and the Johnson County Department for Children and Families.

“In conducting our investigation, we have taken great care to ensure that we do not interfere with the county’s proceedings or compromise the privacy or welfare of the child in any way. The information developed in the court proceeding is confidential and has not been shared with us, and the court has sealed all law enforcement records. Local law enforcement authorities have publicly advised that the available evidence does not permit them to determine who caused the child’s injuries.

“Similarly, based on the evidence presently available, the NFL cannot conclude that Mr. Hill violated the Personal Conduct Policy. Accordingly, he may attend Kansas City’s training camp and participate in all club activities. He has been and will continue to be subject to conditions set forth by the District Court, Commissioner Goodell, and the Chiefs, which include clinical evaluation and therapeutic intervention.

“If further information becomes available through law enforcement, the pending court proceeding, or other sources, we will promptly consider it and take all appropriate steps at that time.”
—
In June 2023, Hill faced another legal action involving an altercation at a marina in Miami each. Hill was accused of slapping an employee. After further investigation, Hill settled with the victim to avoid any further legal actions and no criminal charges against him were filed.

Just months later in 2024, he was sued by Sophie Hall, an Instagram model who alleged Hill caused her severe injury during a football drill that was held at his home. It was claimed that Hill injured her leg with a
forceful shove after performing well in drills. The lawsuit against Hill had details of the ongoing pain and medical treatments Hall had to face as a result of Hill’s actions.

With the driving violation near Hard Rock Stadium, Hill’s public image has grown even more complicated. Although many seem to think that the detainment was over the top, it rehashes many of Hill’s legal troubles.

Hill’s journey through college to the NFL has been shadowed with a series of legal issues, as well as personal issues. Although Hill has skill on the field, his controversies off of it has provoked debates about his character.