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Miami Dolphins star Tyreek Hill is facing allegations of slapping a 57-year-old fishing charter company employee at the Bill Bird Marina in Haulover Park on Father’s Day.
Via DolphinsTalk.com, a report from Angie DiMichele of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Hill offered the victim $200 as an apology for his actions.
The incident came to light through a supplemental report obtained by the Sun Sentinel, shedding more light on the events leading up to the alleged slap.
Witnesses stated that Hill wanted to apologize to the employee and was heard instructing his associate to give the victim $200. However, the worker declined the money, and Hill departed soon after the incident occurred.
Surveillance footage reviewed by officers supported the accounts provided by the boat captain and the employee, further strengthening the case against Hill. The employee positively identified Hill as the individual who slapped him in a photo lineup.
As a result, the police referred the case to the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office for potential charges.
Ed Griffith, a spokesperson for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office, confirmed that they are currently reviewing the case. The incident has sparked public attention and raised concerns about the conduct of professional athletes off the field.
Additional details surrounding the altercation have emerged since the initial incident on June 18th. Two women accompanying Hill reportedly boarded a private fishing boat without permission. The boat captain, upon returning from the marina’s gas station, discovered the unauthorized presence and instructed them to disembark.
Hill claimed to have felt disrespected, escalating tensions between him and the boat captain.
The $200 offer made by Hill followed a struggle during which he had to be restrained and the frightened employee sought refuge in his office, locking the door behind him. According to the Sun-Sentinel, as the confrontation continued, the employee left his office and approached Hill, who proceeded to slap him on the back of his head and neck.
Hill was then restrained by one of the men in his group as the worker hurried back into his office out of fear.
With the surveillance footage corroborating the accounts of both the boat captain and the employee, the police department promptly handed the case over to a prosecutor on June 22 for further investigation and potential charges.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the Miami Dolphins organization, the NFL, and fans alike will monitor the developments surrounding Tyreek Hill’s alleged assault.
The incident raises important questions about the responsibility of professional athletes and the consequences they may face for their actions outside the realm of sports.