Olympic Sprinter Charges Of Battery Involving Incident Of Parked Car

By Keenan Gray of DyeStat

Olympic medalist Fred Kerley was arrested Thursday night in Miami Beach, Fla. after a confrontation with local police officers.

The 29-year-old Kerley appeared in court on Friday afternoon, after spending the night in jail, after being charged with felony battery on a law enforcement officer and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. 

Local news outlet WSVN 7 News reported that Kerley approached the officers at about 11:25 p.m. He approached "a police scene" and expressed concerns about his car, which was parked in the area. 

According to a report by Local10, Kerley's attorney called the incident "a misunderstanding."

“Mr. Kerley is a record-breaking athlete," the attorney said. "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.”

Officers told Kerley to move away and he did not. 

Kerley is accused of pushing an officer's hand away, which led to multiple officers taking him down to the ground, and using a dart-firing stun gun to subdue him. 

Miami-Dade Judge Mindy Glazer seemed to agree with Kerley's attorney.

“It looks like he was beaten up pretty badly by the police, from what I read,” she said.

The judge found probable cause for the counts of battery on an officer and resisting arrest, but not disorderly conduct. She ordered that Kerley be released on his own recognizance, but will face a trial date.