Photo: Getty Images
Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill has hired a prominent civil rights lawyer who represented George Floyd's family after the wide receiver was detained while on his way to a game earlier this month.
According to Local 10, Hill retained attorney Devon Jacob, who helped represent Floyd's family after he was murdered by Minneapolis police in 2020.
Hill was detained by Miami-Dade police officers over alleged traffic violations while on his way to Hard Rock Stadium just hours before the Dolphins' season opener on September 8. Videos showed officers aggressively handcuffing Hill, who at one point was put face down on the ground. At one point during the encounter, an officer appeared to kneel on Hill's back. Footage also showed an officer seemingly striking Hill on the curb.
Officer Danny Torres was put on administrative leave amid the Miami-Dade Police Department's investigation into the incident.
Jacob described Hill's encounter with police as "quite frightening."
“I’m a former police officer. I defended law enforcement for 10 years,” Jacob told Local 10. “It’s really quite frightening when your most out of control person on scene is your law enforcement.”
The civil rights attorney is joining Hill's legal team as they push for changes in police departments across the nation.
“Tyreek intends to continue the national movement for necessary police reform that George Floyd’s death started,” Jacob said in a statement, adding that he's "demanding that Congress finally pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act.”
The Black Information Network is your source for Black News! Get the latest news 24/7 on The Black Information Network. Listen now on the iHeartRadio app or click HERE to tune in live.