Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill’s detainment has people talking about police tactics, race and status, but also about his car.
Hill was driving a McLaren 720, a sports car that’s worth up to $350,000 and can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 2.8 seconds.
The car’s top speed is 212 miles per hour.
The wide receiver was on his way to the Week 1 game Sunday against the Jacksonville Jaguars when police stopped him for speeding and reckless driving. He was handcuffed and placed face down on a street just outside the team’s stadium.
The sports star made it to the game in time, but was left confused by the police situation.
Miami-Dade Police Director Stephanie V. Daniels said she has launched an internal affairs investigation, and the police officer involved was placed on administrative leave.
After Hill found out about the officer, he said, “That should tell you everything you need to know.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler said he had “no idea” why he was handcuffed.
“I wasn’t disrespectful because my mom didn’t raise me that way,” he said. “Didn’t cuss. Didn’t do none of that. Like I said, I’m still trying to figure it out, man.”
Hill, who is Black, suggested he was lucky to be the well-known football star he is, or else the situation could’ve been different.
“I don’t want to bring race into it, but sometimes it gets kind of iffy when you do,” he said. “What if I wasn’t Tyreek Hill? Lord knows what that guy or guys would have done. I was just making sure that I was doing what my uncle always told me to do whenever you’re in a situation like that: ’Just listen, put your hands on the steering wheel and just listen.’”
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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