CARTER BORDWELL
An attorney for Fred Kerley, an Olympic sprinter and former Taylor resident charged after an altercation with police in Miami Beach, Florida, said this week his client’s arrest may have been racially motivated.
Kerley, who earned a silver medal for the United States at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and a bronze at the 2024 Paris Games, is facing a felony charge and two misdemeanor charges after an incident with officers on Jan. 2.
The episode occurred in Miami-Dade County, where Kerley resides.
Kerley’s defense attorney, Yale Sanford, issued a statement to CNN condemning the officers’ actions, suggesting the incident may have been prompted because Kerley is Black.
“It just goes to show that no matter how hard you work, how many medals you earn for your country and how many people across the globe you inspire, in Miami Beach, Mr. Kerley was treated like millions of African Americans, male and female, around the country — with a lack of humanity, compassion or respect,” Sanford said.
Miami Beach police spokesman Christopher Bass told USA Today: “Our officers reverted back to training. Our officer was battered, and they responded to the resistance appropriately and professionally.”
Police released body-camera footage showing the 29-year-old athlete being approached by police. In the video, an officer brushes his hand against Kerley’s chest, prompting Kerley to push the hand away.
The situation escalated into a physical confrontation involving several police. According to officials, Kerley reportedly refused arrest, leading officers to use a stun gun, which caused him to collapse.
The audio in the footage remains silent until the altercation begins. Kerley’s girlfriend, Cleo Jamila Rahman, can be heard pleading with officers, screaming, “Stop!” and “He is an athlete. Please do not mess with him!” while recording the incident on her phone.
Rahman is also facing a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
According to a police report, as reported by WPLG, during the struggle, an officer “delivered multiple hammer fists” to Kerley’s head and struck him “multiple times in the rib cage” before deploying a stun gun to subdue him. Kerley was subsequently handcuffed and taken into custody.
Kerley appeared in Miami-Dade bond court the afternoon of Jan. 3, where he was charged with battery on a police officer, resisting an officer without violence and disorderly conduct, according to WPLG.
In Taylor, residents via social media, including the Taylor Press Facebook page, have offered their own take on Kerley’s case.
“So sad to hear this. The fact is, not all cops handle situations the same without their own frustration coming out or have a habit of overreaching the law,” posted one woman. “My hope is Kerley will be given the chance to tell his truth.”
Another poster said, “It looks like the cop in the front is trying to get some separation but the cop in the rear gives him a chest bump back forward. Not saying Fred was right either for getting that close to a situation. Both sides weren’t at their best.”
