Olympic bronze medalist Fred Kerley was arrested on Thursday following an incident with police in Miami Beach, with multiple videos of the encounter circulating online. Body camera footage reveals Kerley being tased by officers, while another perspective shows an officer striking him as others restrain him.
The incident began when Kerley reportedly became agitated while attempting to access his vehicle near an ongoing police investigation. The athlete's interaction with law enforcement escalated quickly, leading to his detainment.
Former MLB player Jazz Chisholm Jr. publicly questioned the police officers' actions via social media, expressing concern over their handling of the situation involving the Olympic athlete.
Kerley is facing charges including battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, and disorderly conduct. He has since been released on his own recognizance.
This recent arrest has also brought to light previous charges against Kerley stemming from a May incident involving domestic violence and robbery. An affidavit details an altercation with his wife, allegedly involving physical violence and the theft of her cell phone. The incident occurred on Kerley's birthday and reportedly began with a dispute over his wife's communication with someone on Instagram.
The woman present with Kerley during the Thursday incident, rapper DJ Sky High Baby (Cleo Rahman), was also reportedly arrested. She has defended Kerley, claiming they were merely trying to reach their car and not obstruct the ongoing investigation.
Kerley secured a bronze medal in the 100-meter race at the Paris Olympics. He previously won the world championship in the same event in 2022 and a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He was also part of the U.S. 4x100-meter relay team in Paris that was disqualified.
