Know more about Manuel Batista, a 6-year veteran of the Miami-Dade Police Department, who has been identified as one of the officers involved in the controversial traffic stop of Dolphins star Tyreek Hill
Hill was arrested by Miami PD officers on Sunday morning, September 8, 2024, just hours before the Dolphinsโ season opener against the Jaguars.
The controversial incident, whose video is currently trending across social media platforms featuring former Chiefs wide receiver being forcibly restrained and handcuffed by investigators, sparked a heated outrage online.
Who is Miami-Dade PD police officer Manuel Batista seen in the Tyreek Hill body cam arrest video
The outrage furthermore intensified when body cam footage of the encounter was released by the Miami PD. The footage was shared by Marcel Louis-Jacques, an ESPN Miami Dolphins reporter.
The journalist captioned the video, โBody cam footage of Tyreek Hill and Calais Campbellโs detainment Sunday has been released.โ
The viral video triggered a wave of furious reactions, with many social media users identifying Manuel Batista as one of the officers involved, according to a screenshot from the footage.
๐๐ฅ๐๐๐๐๐ก๐: #Dolphins WR Tyreek Hill "arrest" body cam footage has been released:
"GET OUT, GET OUT!"
"STOP CRYING!"
The cops seem to be using excessive forceโฆ pic.twitter.com/BBOLsgQxCH
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) September 9, 2024
About Manuel Batista
Batista had been praised in February by the North Miami Beach Police Department for graduating at the top of his class from the Miami-Dade School of Justice Basic Law Enforcement Class 382, as per the official X account of the school.
As per the official LinkedIn profile of Manuel Batista, who is currently making waves online due to his alleged involvement in Hillโs arrest, he had joined the Miami-Dade Police Department in October 2019.
The Law officer graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2014 with a degree in General Business Administration and Management. Reportedly, Manuel Batista, previously attended Miami College.
Before joining the police force, he worked as an Area Sales Manager for Walgreens.
Social Media Userโs Reaction
Following the revelation of Batistaโs involvement, the praise post was flooded with negative comments.
ALLEGEDLY: this is one of the cops that was abusing his authority on Tyreek Hill, Calais Campbell and Jonnu Smith.
Officer Manuel Batista.
In the screenshot of the bodycam, you can see M. Batista and the year 2019. pic.twitter.com/mLKvNfrTDt
— Christian (@c_alexander_97) September 9, 2024
Later on Sunday, the Miami-Dade Police Department announced that one officer had been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation, though at the time of writing this article, it is unclear if that officer was Batista.
Following the viral the incident, Hillโs agent, Rosenhaus, revealed that they are planning to pursue legal action.
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