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The Miami-Dade Police officer who pulled over Miami Dolphins’ superstar Tyreek Hill — triggering a chaotic series of events that led to him and a fellow player in handcuffs — has a history of using force during his 5-years with the department. While his record is comparatively cleaner than the officer who pinned Hill to the ground, he’s faced several complaints.
READ MORE: Tyreek Hill and officer who detained him may have both broken law, legal experts say
The Miami Herald obtained Officer Manuel Batista’s employee profile, which shows that he has used force in two separate cases and faced four complaints since his employment in October 2019, although only one saw action taken.
He had also received five commendations for his work while on the force, including not taking a sick day and dedication to duty.
According to his profile, Batista used force in May 2021 and March 2022 to varying degrees. While the March incident did not note what force Batista used; in the May case, he pushed or pulled, which did not lead to “visible” injuries. There were injuries in the March case — bruises and abrasions to a wrist, laceration to an arm and rib injuries. It is unclear who was the injured party.
In four complaints, three in 2022 and one in 2024, he was alleged to have used biased-based policing and improperly used a body-worn camera. No action was taken for most, but he got informal counseling in one instance for not following the body camera procedure.
The report did not include specific details on what occurred in the complaints nor use of force incidents. Last week, the Herald spoke to Alex Piquero, professor of sociology and criminology at the University of Miami, who stressed the importance of understanding the context of such incidents. He said officers are likely to be under many circumstances with people who end up filing a complaint.
Batista was just one of four Miami-Dade officer involved in Hill’s traffic stop earlier this month. Officer Danny Torres was reassigned and is being investigated for his actions, which included forcing Hill onto the ground and putting him and Dolphins’ defensive tackle Calais Campbell in handcuffs. It is unclear whether Batista and the other two officers are facing discipline.
Torres’ employee profile revealed he’s faced several suspensions and used force over a dozen times in his 27-year career.
READ MORE: Miami-Dade cop who cuffed Tyreek Hill had previous disciplinary issues, report says
While Batista may not have arrested anyone, his actions were the catalyst of the ensuing events.
What was Batista’s role in traffic stop?
Batista was the initial officer who pulled over Hill as he drove his McLaren 729S to the Hard Rock Stadium before the Dolphins’ game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
In body camera footage released by the police department, Batista is seen walking over and knocking on Hill’s window, which kicks off a brief, heated argument. Moments later, Torres opens Hill’s door, pulls him out and pins him to the ground with other officers.
Batista penned Hill’s two traffic citations, writing him up for a $129 seat belt violation and a $179 careless driving violation.
READ MORE: Police name cop reassigned after Tyreek Hill handcuffed. Attorney wants him reinstated
The officer would later start a confrontation with Dolphins’ tight end Jonnu Smith, who pulled over to check on Hill. Batista demanded Smith leave the area, going as far as to wave handcuffs in his face alluding that Smith would be arrested.
Ultimately, Batista ordered Smith to hand over his license. He gave Smith two traffic citations: a $129 fine for having an expired tag and a $179 for failing to obey a traffic control device.
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Amanda Smith is a dedicated U.S. correspondent with a passion for uncovering the stories that shape the nation. With a background in political science, she provides in-depth analysis and insightful commentary on domestic affairs, ensuring readers are well-informed about the latest developments across the United States.
