Fred Kerley faces charges of battery and resisting arrest after an altercation with police in Miami.
The 29-year-old, who is the 2022 world 100m champion and secured Olympic bronze over the distance in Paris, was tasered by Miami Beach police during his arrest.
Kerley was speaking with officers “about his vehicle parked nearby” when his “demeanour became increasingly aggressive,” according to a statement by Miami Beach police.
“Despite officers’ efforts to de-escalate the situation, the defendant assumed a fighting stance and continued to ignore their lawful commands,” the police statement added.
“When the officers attempted to effectuate his arrest, he actively resisted their efforts. Consequently, emergency back-up was requested, a dart-firing stun gun [taser] was effectively deployed and the defendant was arrested without any further incident.”
The entire incident was captured on a police body camera.
In a Miami-Dade bond court, Kerley was subsequently released on his own recognisance, meaning that he avoids jail without paying bail.
Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer said: “This could have been handled a different way. I don’t know if the officers in Miami Beach are busy handling a lot of complicated crime scenes there but I have a gentleman who’s never been arrested.
“There are no prior arrests, who his attorney’s saying has competed in the Olympics, he’s obviously a professional athlete and it’s unfortunate that he got to this position.”
She added: “Sir [Kerley], you’re probably smart to stay off Miami Beach. Go somewhere else to go to dinner, avoid getting in trouble, because if you get re-arrested, you’re going to be locked up in jail until your trial.”
Glazer found probable cause for the counts of battery on an officer and resisting arrest — but not disorderly conduct.
Kerley is a double Olympic 100m medallist and, on top of the bronze in Paris, he secured silver in the event in Tokyo.
The US athlete has a personal best of 9.76 and is joint-sixth on the 100m all-time list.
Source: AW
