Fred Kerley was arrested on Miami Beach, with body cam footage showing the moment the 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medallist was tasered and taken into custody
Team USA sprinter Fred Kerley found himself in hot water after a clash with the cops at Miami Beach led to his arrest.
The Olympic bronze medalist was tasered by officers, as seen in bodycam footage that went viral, before being slapped with charges including battery on a police officer and disorderly conduct. Miami Beach police explained that trouble started when Kerley wouldn’t clear out from an area under active investigation near his parked car.
“Despite officers’ efforts to de-escalate the situation, the defendant assumed a fighting stance and continued to ignore their lawful commands,” the police recounted. “When the officers attempted to effectuate his arrest, he actively resisted their efforts. Consequently, emergency back-up was requested, a dart-firing stun gun was effectively deployed, and the defendant was arrested without any further incident.”
A clip showing Kerley, dressed in a grey hoodie and jeans, surrounded by police while seated on the curb quickly spread online. He was later hoisted up by three officers and taken into custody calmly. Throughout the ordeal, Kerley kept looking back, keeping an eye on the unfolding situation as he was escorted away.
His mug shot was shared by Miami-Dade Corrections on Friday, confirming his charges: battery on a police officer, resisting an officer without violence, and disorderly conduct/breach of the peace. According to NBC Miami, Kerley is set for a bond court appearance on the arrest day.
Details such as the exact value of the bond and legal representation remain unclear; however, the Miami-Dade inmate database indicates that two out of the three charges sum up to a $650 bond. In Florida, battery on a Police Officer is categorised as a third-degree felony, carrying severe repercussions, detailed by Adam K. Goodman Law: penalties can include a possible five-year prison term, equal duration of probation, and fines reaching $5,000.
The severity escalates if it proceeds to Aggravated Battery on a Police Officer, which mandates a minimum sentence of five years behind bars. For less grave offenses like Disorderly Conduct, the consequences are substantially milder. As per the eLaws resource of Miami-Dade, one might face a penalty of up to $500 or an incarceration period of up to 60 days for this misdemeanor.
Kerley’s athletic achievements shine with two Olympic medals and his latest performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, not to mention clinching victory at Budapest’s 2023 World Championships as part of the stunning 4×100 meter relay quartet, including Christian Coleman, Brandon Carnes, and the acclaimed ‘world’s fastest’, Noah Lyles.
Only moments before this episode unfolded, Kerley was celebrating on Twitter the launch of his premier track-and-field trading card, even sharing a collector’s joy upon drawing the Olympian’s signed card. On Dec. 21, Kerley voiced a self-assured sentiment on his social media platform, stating: “Through every challenge and every triumph, one thing remains certain: I can always count on me.”