By Citius Mag Staff
January 3, 2025
100m Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday night following a confrontation with police during an active investigation, according to 7News in Miami.
What You Need To Know:
– Kerley reportedly approached officers near 9th Street in Miami Beach, expressing concern about his parked vehicle during an ongoing police investigation. Police told him to go around the area and then say he became "increasingly aggressive" and ignored requests to leave. 7News reports police claim Kerley assumed a fighting stance and resisted lawful commands. A dart-firing stun gun was used to subdue him. He was taken into custody without any further incident.
– Police body camera footage was published by NBC 6 South Florida that shows Kerley speaking to multiple police officers. One police officer puts a hand on Kerley's chest before a struggle ensues. It takes multiple officers to get Kerley onto the ground. One officer delivered multiple blows to Kerley's body and head. One officer is heard saying, "I'm gonna tase him" before the other authorities give him some space. The officer deployed the taser on Kerley, who was then handcuffed.
– His girlfriend, Cleo Rahman (also known as DJ Sky High Baby) was facing a resisting officer without violence charge. The arrest affidavit by police claims she “resisted by stiffening up her arms and pulling away in an attempt to flee.” She can be seen in the body cam footage yelling at Kerley and the police officers to stop and that he “didn’t do anything.”
Rahman posted another angle of Kerley's altercation with police on her Instagram story that shows the police officers landing several punches on Kerley during the arrest. The police report notes that one of the police officers "delivered multiple hammer fists" to Kerley's head area, back and rib cage. Authorities claim Kerley was using "evasive movements" in the altercation.
– Kerley was taken to a hospital before he was booked into jail early Friday morning.
– Kerley is coming off a 2024 season in which he qualified for his second U.S. Olympic team and earned a bronze medal in the 100m final at the Summer Games in Paris. Kerley was also a member of Team USA's 4x100m relay team.
Charges:
– Kerley was arrested on a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer in addition to misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
– According to News10, Kerley's lawyer said, "This seems like a total misunderstanding. “Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete. He has served in the Olympics for the United States track and field (team). He is a model citizen in our community. This is nothing more than an overreaction by the police.”
The judge read the report and noted that Kerley "looks like he was beaten up pretty badly by police" and then told the Miami Beach police sergeant, "Sergeant, this could have been handled a different way. And I don’t know if the officers in Miami Beach are busy handling a lot of complicated crime scenes there, but I have a gentleman who’s never been arrested, there’s no prior arrests, who his attorney’s saying has competed in the Olympics, who is obviously a professional athlete and it’s unfortunate that he got to this position.”
– The judge did not find probable cause for a charge of disorderly conduct/breach of the police. Kerley was released from jail on his own recognizance.
– Kerley's attorney later informed reporters that the sprinter was still being held in custody overnight on charges of robbery and domestic violence stemming from a previous incident in May 2024. He was released on Saturday evening after posting his bond.
What Kerley's Lawyer Said
Kerley's attorney Richard L. Cooper (via The Miami Herald): “Fred Kerley has inspired millions through his incredible athletic talent, he’s raised millions for charities, and he has brought home silver and bronze medals on behalf of our country, but in Miami Beach, he is just considered another Black man. It’s not the first time I’ve seen a law-abiding Black man be brutalized by Miami Beach police.”
This is a developing story. This post will be updated as more information becomes available.
Citius Mag Staff