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Miami Beach Police Department reveal Fred Kerley's has fresh charges of domestic violence and robbery following his arrest.
Following Fred Kerley's arrest in Miami on account of confrontation and battery with police officers, developing update reveals the Paris Olympics medallist has fresh charges of domestic violence and robbery.
Kerley was arrested on Thursday night after the track star approached the scene of an active police investigation on the 100 block of 9th Street on, expressing concerns about his parked vehicle nearby.
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Police said he became increasingly aggressive and refused to leave when asked by officers. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, the 29-year-old assumed a fighting stance and ignored lawful commands, leading to his resistance during the arrest.
Reports also stated that after “multiple diversionary strikes to his rib cage area,” officers used a stun gun on him and were able to get him in handcuffs. Authorities said despite being in handcuffs, Kerley was able to remove one of the stun gun probes.
He was arrested on a felony charge of battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
Fred Kerley taken to court
The two-time Olympian appeared in Miami-Dade bond court on Friday afternoon, and in a somewhat contentious hearing, defense attorney Yale Sanford appeared at his side, out of frame in the courtroom video feed, arguing that there was no probable cause for a charge of disorderly conduct. He also criticized the actions of officers at the scene.
“This seems like a total misunderstanding,” Sanford said. “Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete. He has served in the Olympics for the United States track and field (team). He is a model citizen in our community. This is nothing more than an overreaction by the police.”
On hearing this, Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer agreed after reading the arrest report, despite a Miami Beach police sergeant appearing remotely, calling Kerley “pretty aggressive” while justifying the charges and officers’ actions.
“Sergeant, this could have been handled a different way,” said Glazer.
“And 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’s no prior arrests, who his attorney’s saying has competed in the Olympics, who is obviously a professional athlete and it’s unfortunate that he got to this position.”
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Glazer, finding probable cause for the counts of battery on an officer and resisting arrest — but not disorderly conduct — ordered that Kerley be released on his own recognizance.
Miami Beach Police Department reacts, reveals Fred Kerley's history with domestic violence and robbery
Following the court's ruling, a spokesperson for the Miami Beach Police Department (MBPD) defended the actions of the agency’s officers.
“Our officers attempted to de-escalate the situation multiple times,” Officer Christopher Bess said. “However, unfortunately, the defendant escalated it by using physical force on an officer and was subsequently dealt with accordingly.
“I am very disappointed that Judge Mindy Glazer did not look at our officer’s body worn cameras before she acted more like a defense attorney at the bond hearing than an unbiased judge,” said Fraternal Order of Police President Bobby Hernandez.
“She must have also not been aware that as she was sympathizing with him and his defense attorney that this ‘model citizen’ was wanted for domestic violence involving strangulation and robbery.”
This incident occurred in May 2024 (on his birthday), but the charges were brought to him after his arrest last night.
According to an arrest affidavit obtained by Fox News Digital, Kerley and his wife got into an argument "in reference to [her] having contact with an unknown person on Instagram." Kerley approached his wife aggressively, and out of fear, she punched him in the face.
Kerley then “grabbed the victim, pushed her to the ground, encircled his arm around her neck and impeded her breathing.” The affidavit says Kerley then stole his wife's cell phone after placing her in a second chokehold.
A probable cause message was then inserted into the Police Department's system. Thus, after his arrest last night, he was hit with domestic violence and robbery charges.
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