American Olympic sprinter Fred Kerley was apprehended and subjected to a taser by Miami Beach police on Thursday, as revealed by bodycam footage. The incident occurred while Kerley was approaching an active investigation site, claiming he had parked his vehicle nearby. According to law enforcement reports via WSVN, Kerley became agitated and adopted a combative stance when asked to vacate the area, leading to his arrest. The bodycam footage captures a bystander urging officers to stop, asserting Kerley's innocence. Kerley is facing charges of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest without violence, and disorderly conduct. He was initially released on his own recognizance but was later taken back into custody on separate charges related to domestic violence, strangulation, and robbery.
The subsequent charges stem from an incident in May 2024, involving a dispute with his wife. An arrest affidavit details a verbal altercation escalating into physical violence after Kerley's wife interacted with an individual on Instagram. The affidavit alleges that Kerley physically assaulted his wife, impeding her breathing with a chokehold, and subsequently stealing her phone. Kerley was not present when authorities initially responded, and witnesses reportedly became uncooperative. A probable cause alert was entered, leading to his arrest following the Thursday incident.
Kerley, a bronze medalist in the 100 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, has a decorated athletic career, including a 2022 world championship title in the same event and a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics. He also holds world championship titles in the 4x400-meter relay (2019) and the 4x100-meter relay (2023). In Paris, his 4x100-meter team was disqualified due to a flawed handoff. This incident followed Kerley's public accusation against the United States Track and Field Association, alleging favoritism in their decision to include teammate Noah Lyles, the 100-meter gold medalist in Paris, in the 4x400-meter team for the 2024 world championships.
