U.S. Olympic Runner Fred Kerley Tased and Punched By Officers During Miami Beach Arrest [Video]

U.S. Olympic runner Fred Kerley was tased and arrested during a violent confrontation with Miami Beach police officers.

Video

Body camera footage released by the Miami Beach Police Department captures the tense encounter on January 2nd. Kerley, attempting to reach his nearby vehicle, was instructed to go around an active police scene. The situation escalated into a heated argument, leading to physical altercations. Officers wrestled the athlete to the ground, used a taser, and charged him with battery, resisting an officer, and disorderly conduct. Another angle of the incident shared by Kerley’s girlfriend, DJ Sky High Baby, shows one officer relentlessly punching the 29-year-old while on the ground.

Former NFL star quarterback Robert Griffin III condemned the arrest on Twitter, calling it a “complete overuse of force.”

“The same Fred Kerley, who just finished representing the USA and winning a Bronze Medal in the 100m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. How do you represent your country and come home to unnecessary beat downs like this?” Griffin tweeted.

This is COMPLETE OVERUSE OF FORCE by the Miami-Dade Police against Fred Kerley.

The same Fred Kerley, who just finished representing the USA and winning a Bronze Medal in the 100m at the 2024 Olympics in Paris. How do you represent your country and come home to unnecessary beat… pic.twitter.com/BMnf5tys8d

— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) January 4, 2025

At Kerley’s bond hearing, defense attorney Yale Sanford echoed Griffin’s sentiments and denounced the officers’ actions.

“This was a complete overuse of any reasonable force,” Sanford said. “Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete… a model citizen. This is nothing more than an overreaction by the police.”

Officer Christopher Bess defended the department, stating, “Our officers attempted to de-escalate… the defendant escalated it by using physical force.”

Kerley, a silver medalist at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and bronze medalist at Paris 2024 remains a celebrated figure in U.S. track and field despite the controversy. He has since been released from jail.