Miami:
American Olympic medallist and former world champion sprinter Fred Kerley was tased after which arrested in Miami Seashore following a conflict on Thursday, the police division mentioned.
Kerley, bronze medallist within the 100m on the Paris Olympics final yr and silver medalist in Tokyo, was concerned in a scuffle with police and was tased by them after making an attempt to power his manner into an lively investigation scene.
The 29-year-old had approached the scene in South Seashore to ask about his automotive which was parked close by the scene and police mentioned he confirmed an “aggressive demeanor” and ignored orders to again away earlier than a scuffle involving a number of officers.
That is COMPLETE OVERUSE OF FORCE by the Miami-Dade Police towards Fred Kerley.
The identical Fred Kerley, who simply completed representing the USA and successful a Bronze Medal within the 100m on the 2024 Olympics in Paris. How do you signify your nation and are available house to pointless beat… pic.twitter.com/BMnf5tys8d
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 4, 2025
A police arrest affidavit mentioned 4 officers had tried to restrain Kerley and mentioned that they had hit him within the head, rib cage and again earlier than utilizing the taser.
The assertion mentioned that after being incapacitated by the taser he “continued to withstand officers”
Kerley, 100m world champion in 2022, was charged with resisting arrest with out violence, battery towards an officer and disorderly conduct.
Police mentioned Kerley was transported to Mount Sinai Medical Heart for analysis and was booked at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Heart.
South Florida tv station Native 10 WPLG, reported that Kerley appeared in courtroom on Friday afternoon.
His legal professional, who was not named, criticized the police’s habits and mentioned there had been a “whole misunderstanding” and that Kerley was a “mannequin citizen in our neighborhood. That is nothing greater than an overreaction by the police.”
The station mentioned that Miami-Dade decide Mindy Glazer mentioned the incident “may have been dealt with one other manner”.
“I’ve a gentleman who’s by no means been arrested, there isn’t any prior arrests, who his legal professional’s saying has competed within the Olympics, who is clearly an expert athlete and it is unlucky that he bought to this place,” she mentioned.
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