Report: Police officer cited ‘non-existent law’ before detaining Calais Campbell

Weeks after Miami Dolphins star wide receiver Tyreek Hill was detained prior to the team’s season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 8, details of the traffic stop are still making headlines in local newspapers.

According to the Miami Herald, a Miami-Dade police officer by the name of Danny Torres cited Dolphins defensive end Calais Campbell for violating a “non-existent law” before detaining him.

Torres allegedly told Campbell that he broke a law that stipulates that folks must be at least 25 feet away from first responders after being verbally told to step away.

Gov. Ron DeSantis — a member of the Republican Party — signed a bill to create such a law, but it has yet to go into effect and won’t be an official law until Jan. 1 of next year.

The closest active Florida law to the non-existent law Campbell was told he violated would be “obstructing justice.”

Not long ago, the Dolphins’ oldest player on the roster revealed his rationale for why he didn’t leave the scene even though he was receiving verbal warnings from officers.

“I told him I will stand where you want me to stand,” he said. “You tell me how far I need to back up, and I’ll back up, but I’m not leaving the scene. This is my friend here. I’m here to support him. I’m not leaving.”

Interestingly, Campbell later had his handcuffs removed and did not receive a citation. He doesn’t face any legal trouble for what transpired earlier in the month but suggested that he’s considering filing a lawsuit, even if football is his primary focus right now.

“We talked about a lawsuit, but I’m focusing on football,” he said. “A lot of people have recommended a lawsuit.”

Campbell went on to play in the Dolphins’ matchup against the Jaguars later that day following Hill’s traffic stop. He helped Miami earn a 20-17 victory to start out the season, though the Dolphins haven’t won another game since then.

The team is fresh off a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 22 and is in a tie with the New England Patriots for the worst record of any squad in the AFC East right now at 1-2. It’s worth noting that the Dolphins got off to a much better start to the 2023 regular season, as the team boasted a 3-0 record through three games.