Fred Kerley: Paris Olympics track star tasered and charged with battery on a police officer in Miami after 'trying to fight cops'

Former world champion and Paris Olympics 100m bronze medallist Fred Kerley has been arrested in Miami after a confrontation with the police and faces charges of battery on a police officer.

According to reports and the Miami Beach police, Kerley approached the scene of an active police investigation on the 100 block of 9th Street on Thursday night, expressing concerns about his parked vehicle nearby.

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.

Several measures including emergency backup and a dart-firing stun gun, were deployed to subdue the track star before being subsequently taken into custody without further incident.

Kerley is an established sprinter with multiple medals in his name. The highlight of his career so far was becoming the 2022 World 100m champion and claiming a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

In addition, he won 100m silver medal at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, and was a member of Team USA's 4×100m gold medal-winning squad alongside Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

Kerley reportedly faces charges of battery on a police officer, corrections officer, or firefighter, resisting an officer without violence and disorderly conduct.