United States Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was arrested in Miami Beach, Fla., late Thursday after a confrontation with police that was recorded on officer-worn body cameras.
According to an arrest affidavit released by the Miami Beach Police Department, police were in an “active police scene” when Kerley approached, “concerned about his vehicle parked in the area of the scene.” Officers told Kerley to go around the area, according to the affidavit. Body camera footage, also released Friday by Miami Beach PD, shows Kerley appearing to argue with officers before a physical altercation ensued. Multiple officers grabbed Kerley and attempted to take him to the ground.
The footage shows four officers attempting to take Kerley down and delivering a number of blows to Kerley’s body as he attempted to stand up. Eventually, one officer used a stun gun, striking Kerley with two probes to bring him to the ground.
Kerley, 29, was transported to a hospital before he was booked into jail early Friday morning. He faces charges of battery against a police officer, resisting an officer without violence and disorderly conduct. Kerley appeared in Miami-Dade bond court, where a judge ordered him released on his own recognizance, according to local reports. However, Kerley’s attorney, Yale Sanford, told The Athletic that Kerley was being held in custody overnight on charges of robbery and domestic battery from a previous incident. Kerley was set to appear in court Saturday on those charges, Sanford said.
In the affidavit, officers described Kerley as having “an aggressive demeanor.” The report said Kerley “attempted to force his way through” two officers despite their request he leave the scene. One officer attempted to raise his left hand to create space between he and Kerley, but Kerley pushed the hand away. The officer then grabbed Kerley’s hand and was met by a push from Kerley’s left shoulder, according to the affidavit. The officer then attempted to arrest him.
Kerley made “evasive movements to avoid being arrested,” according to the affidavit. Officers responded by delivering multiple “hammer fists” to Kerley’s upper head area and “several elbows” toward his upper back area. One officer grabbed Kerley’s lower extremities, attempting to control his legs, while another delivered “multiple diversionary strikes toward his rib cage area which were unsuccessful” before utilizing the stun gun.
During the altercation, a woman who was with Kerley and was identified in the affidavit as his girlfriend, could be seen and heard pleading “stop” repeatedly. By the time an officer deployed the stun gun, a crowd surrounded the scene, many recording with phones.
In a statement, Sanford said the body camera footage was “obscene.”
“It just goes to show that no matter how hard you work, how many medals you earn for your country and how many people across the globe you inspire, in Miami Beach, Mr. Kerley was treated like millions of African-Americans, male and female, around the country … with a lack of humanity and respect,” Sanford said. “It’s important for our community to be aware of these actions by police so we can make sure this type of behavior is prevented in the future.”
Kerley was a member of Team USA at the last two Olympics. The Texas native captured bronze in the 100 meters at the 2024 Paris Games, and silver at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
(Photo: Andrej Isakovic / AFP via Getty Images)
