Official announcements from the International Olympic Committee (IOC)

Olympic Sprinter Fred Kerley, 29, Tasered and Arrested in Miami Beach on Battery Charges

Jan 4, 2025, 01:23 AM

Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley, 29, was arrested in Miami Beach on Thursday night after a confrontation with police officers during which he was Tasered, authorities said. The incident occurred when Kerley approached officers who were investigating an unrelated incident to discuss his vehicle parked nearby. Police allege that Kerley approached with an 'aggressive demeanor' and became confrontational, leading to a physical altercation during which he allegedly fought with officers and was subsequently Tasered and arrested. He was charged with battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer without violence, and disorderly conduct, and was booked into jail early Friday. Body camera footage released by Miami Beach Police shows the confrontation and arrest. Kerley's attorney, Yale Sanford, criticized the officers' use of force, calling it an 'overreaction' and stating that the situation was 'a total misunderstanding.' "Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete. He has served in the Olympics for the United States track and field team," Sanford said. In addition to the charges stemming from the Thursday incident, Kerley is also facing charges of strong arm robbery, domestic battery by strangulation, and domestic violence related to a previous incident, according to police. Kerley, who won bronze in the 100 meters at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, is scheduled to appear before Judge Mindy Glazer on the charges. During the incident, Kerley's girlfriend, identified as DJ Sky High Baby, was also detained after filming the arrest. She reportedly told officers, "He didn't do anything." The arrest has drawn criticism from some public figures, with allegations of excessive use of force by police.