Olympic Athlete Fred Kerley Arrested and Tased by Police After Incident Near Active Investigation
Bodycam footage has surfaced showing Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley being tased by police and an officer punching him, leading to his arrest. The incident occurred on Thursday night, when Kerley attempted to get to his car near the location of an active police investigation.
According to the police, Kerley grew agitated when trying to access his vehicle, leading to his arrest. The officer who tased him was seen in the footage, while another officer threw punches while others held Kerley down.
Kerley was taken into custody and faces charges of battery on a police officer, resisting an officer without violence, and disorderly conduct. He was later released on his own recognizance.
The incident has drawn criticism from at least one former athlete, with Miami Marlins star Jazz Chisholm Jr. posting on social media, “Miami Beach police always looking for a way to put there [sic] hands on athletes! Sorry this happened to you Fred!”
The arrest comes as Kerley faces domestic violence and robbery charges from an incident in May, when he and his wife allegedly got into a verbal and physical dispute after she was contacted by an “unknown person on Instagram.” Kerley’s wife was taken to the hospital, and he was later arrested.
Kerley’s alleged behavior was described in an arrest affidavit, which stated that he “grabbed the victim, pushed her to the ground, encircled his arm around her neck and impeded her breathing.” He also allegedly stole his wife’s phone after placing her in a second chokehold.
Kerley’s current companion, Cleo Rahman, defended him in a statement, saying they were simply trying to get to their car and were not attempting to obstruct justice. The incident has left many questioning the police’s actions, with several calling for the officers involved to be held accountable.
