U.S. Olympic runner Fred Kerley has been arrested in South Florida after a confrontation that involved police officers.
The Miami Beach police department released body camera footage that shows Kerley getting into an argument with a couple of officers on Thursday (Jan. 2) that escalated into a physical confrontation. During the scuffle, Kerley was wrestled to the ground. An officer then hit him a few times and was forced to use a taser.
The official arrest report states that police officers where in the area investigating an unrelated active police scene when the sprinter came to the area and attempted to get through to his nearby vehicle. Officers instructed Kerley that he would need to go around the area instead, leading him to begin arguing and shoving with them.
Kerley was then charged with battery, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct. At a bond-hearing the next day, his defense attorney, Yale Sanford, criticized the actions of the police at the scene, saying that this was “a complete overuse of any reasonable force by officers.”
"This seems like a total misunderstanding," said Sanford. "Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete. He has served in the Olympics for the United States track and field [team]. He is a model citizen in our community. This is nothing more than an overreaction by the police."
A spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Department defended the actions of its police officers at the same hearing. “Our officers attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times,” Officer Christopher Bess said. “However, unfortunately, the defendant escalated it by using physical force on an officer and was subsequently dealt with accordingly.”
Kerley previously won the silver medal for the United States at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as well as the bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics.