A viral video showing a white Jacksonville, Florida, deputy punching a Black man during a February traffic stop — then dragging him from his vehicle — has ignited outrage and renewed scrutiny over police use of force.
The video, filmed by 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. from inside his car, shows deputies smashing his window, punching him in the face, and pulling him from the vehicle during what began as a stop for driving without headlights or a seatbelt. McNeil’s civil rights attorneys, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, say the footage clearly depicts excessive and unjustified violence.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, however, claims the viral clip lacks crucial context.
“Yes, the force looks ugly — but that doesn’t automatically make it unlawful,” Sheriff T.K. Waters said at a Monday press conference. He accused critics of pushing an “anti-police agenda” by circulating a partial version of events.
What the Videos Show
Bodycam footage released Monday shows an officer telling McNeil he was stopped for not using headlights. McNeil argues it’s daylight and says he doesn’t need them. He asks to speak with a supervisor, refuses to hand over his license, and locks his door after partially closing it.
Officers warn McNeil at least seven times that he is under arrest and must exit the vehicle. When he refuses, one officer announces plans to break the window. Moments later, bodycam and cellphone footage show the glass shattering, McNeil being punched in the face, and officers dragging him out and striking him again.
McNeil’s attorneys say he suffered a fractured tooth, a concussion, and a traumatic brain injury. He was also diagnosed with cognitive issues and short-term memory loss following the incident.
Bodycam video reportedly does not capture the first punch — something Sheriff Waters acknowledged.
Arrest and Charges
McNeil was arrested on February 19 and charged with resisting an officer without violence, driving on a suspended license, and marijuana possession (less than 20 grams). He pleaded guilty to the resisting and suspended license charges the next day.
The officer who pulled McNeil over, identified as D. Bowers, made no mention of the punches in his official report. Instead, he stated that McNeil refused to comply, prompting him to break the window and use “physical force.” A second officer’s report described striking McNeil’s leg six times to gain compliance.
One controversial detail in Bowers’ report claims McNeil was reaching toward a large knife on the floorboard — a claim the attorneys flatly deny as a “fabrication.”
“In the video, his hands are clearly up. The only time he moves is when he’s hit,” Crump and Daniels said.
Sheriff Waters said he could not determine the position of McNeil’s hands based on the footage.
Aftermath and Investigation
Waters said the department only learned of the video when it went viral five months later. A criminal investigation was launched on Sunday. By Monday, the State Attorney’s Office concluded no criminal laws were broken by the deputies. However, an internal administrative review is still underway.
The arresting officer has been relieved of law enforcement duties pending the outcome of the investigation.
Attorney Harry Daniels criticized the department’s handling of the case. “The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a well-documented history of excessive force,” he said. Crump added, “This young man was exercising his constitutional rights — and they beat him for it.”
Both attorneys are calling for full accountability and the release of all unedited footage related to the incident.
