Retired tennis star James Blake was the victim of a police incident in 2015 where the police mistook him for someone else. Blake was waiting outside his New York hotel for a car to take him to the US Open where he was working as a member of the ESPN broadcast team. Blake was “jumped, slammed to the ground and handcuffed by a white plainclothes New York City police officer.”
Blake was among those who spoke up on Monday when Miami-Dade police released a statement saying Miami Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill was “uncooperative” and “initiated the unfortunate incident.”
He said: “This is the same spin they always try to put on it. Blame the victim. He isn’t the one who is supposed to be trained in deescalation. Then when there is no way to blame (my case) the lies start. Then expect us to believe officers. That trust is shattered.”
“It’s a heartbreaking situation… No. 1: He’s okay. No. 2: He’s gonna play… How things escalated… in handcuffs and being held on the ground with police is mind-boggling to me.”
Agent Drew Rosenhaus on his client Tyreek Hill’s arrest this morning.pic.twitter.com/GzpVKK2U22
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 8, 2024
The incident is still under investigation. One of the officers is on administrative leave until the investigation is completed. Police also clarified in the statement that Hill was not arrested.
Police officers’ unlawful interactions with African Americans have been a hot button in the US for years. Though it is yet to be determined if police committed inappropriate behavior with Hill, it will be interesting to see if there will be more discussion and resolution of this issue because of this high-profile incident.