 "Olympics medallist Fred Kerley was tasered and arrested after a confrontation with police in Miami Beach. Image: Reuters/AP")
US Olympic sprint star Fred Kerley’s arrest in Miami, Florida, which included a violent confrontation with the police before the athlete was tasered has led to a massive controversy. The 29-year-old Kerley, who won 100m bronze at 2024 Paris Olympics, was arrested in South Florida late Thursday after a confrontation with police, authorities said.
Body camera footage released by Miami Beach police captures Fred Kerley in a heated exchange with a group of officers before the situation escalated into a physical confrontation. As per the video, Kerley was taken to the ground, struck multiple times by an officer, and then tasered during the altercation.
The video of Kerley’s arrest has led to an online furore with many users on X accusing the police of “abusing their power and use of force in America”.
“This is COMPLETE OVERUSE OF FORCE by the Miami-Dade Police against Fred Kerley,” an user wrote.
Here are other reactions:
Police’s version
According to an arrest report, officers were investigating an unrelated active police scene when Kerley approached the area and attempted to force his way through to his vehicle, which was parked nearby. Officers had told Kerley to go around the area, but Kerley began to argue with them, which led to a shoving match with police.
Four officers tried to take Kerley into custody while he moved to evade arrest, officials said. After being stunned with the Taser, Kerley was taken to a local hospital and then to the Miami-Dade County jail.
Kerley is charged with battery, resisting an officer and disorderly conduct. Online court records didn’t immediately list an attorney for Kerley, and USA Track & Field, the national governing body for track and field in the US, declined to comment on the arrest.
Kerley won the silver medal for the 100 meters at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and the bronze for the same event at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. He has also earned six medals at the World Athletics Championships.
With agency inputs