See the viral video showing Jacksonville police punch driver
A Florida lawmaker called out Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office after a video showed an officer strike an unarmed Black man during a traffic stop.
Scripps News – WFTS Tampa
- Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters stated prosecutors found an officer involved in the arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr. did not commit a crime, despite online controversy surrounding the incident.
- The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop where McNeil was pulled over for not having headlights on during inclement weather, leading to a resisting arrest charge.
- McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license.
- Civil rights attorneys are representing McNeil and demanding full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
Jacksonville police are reviewing a controversial a traffic stop and arrest that sparked backlash online after video of the incident went viral. But as of July 21, prosecutors have determined that the arresting officer did not commit any crimes, according to Sheriff T.K. Waters.
Addressing the public response, Waters said that “One video devoid of context can be very misleading,” and released bodycam footage from three officers involved in the Feb. 19 arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr. to provide a fuller account of what happened.
What does the video JSO release show?
The video shows the arrest of William McNeil Jr. escalated after a traffic stop when he refused to exit his vehicle upon an officer’s request. Officer D.J. Bowers initially pulled McNeil over for driving without headlights during inclement weather. When told to step out of the car, McNeil declined, asked for a supervisor, and locked the door.
Bowers radioed that McNeil was uncooperative and warned him multiple times that he was under arrest for resisting. Despite repeated commands, McNeil remained in the car. After additional officers arrived and efforts to get McNeil to comply failed, Bowers was authorized to break the window. He smashed it, punched McNeil, proceeded to unlock the door and pulled McNeil out.
What happened in the video circulating on social media that McNeil posted?
Video shot inside McNeil’s car, apparently recorded by the driver, prompted almost 2,000 comments and thousands of “likes” after being posted on Instagram and drawing attention to the encounter which ended with a window being broken on the locked car door and McNeil ending up on the ground under officers’ control.
Video from inside McNeil’s car appeared to show him being struck in the head before being taken to the ground. The incident, now under review, has drawn public scrutiny after partial footage went viral online.
Why did Jacksonville police arrest McNeil?
The arrest stemmed from a traffic stop where McNeil was pulled over for not having headlights on during inclement weather, leading to a resisting arrest charge.
What was William Anthony McNeil Jr. charged with?
Court records show that McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting police without violence and driving with a suspended license, two days after his arrest.
He was sentenced to two days already served in jail and a misdemeanor marijuana charge was dropped.
What was the JSO’s response to the video ?
During an evening press conference, the sheriff said he knew nothing of McNeil’s arrest until July 20, when he was notified about a social media post describing the arrest but showing only a portion of the encounter.
Waters added that McNeil hadn’t filed a complaint about his handling during the arrest; if he had, Waters said, “we would have been all over” that.
Who is representing McNeil? What to know about Ben Crump
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels are representing McNeil.
The pair requested a public release of video of the arrest. According to their statement, “This wasn’t law enforcement, it was brutality. All video from JSO should be released to ensure there is transparency for McNeil and the community,” said a statement attributed to “the legal team.” It added that “We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and justice for William McNeil Jr.”
Will Jacksonville officers be reprimanded for punching the suspect during arrest?
Prosecutors have determined that the arresting officer did not commit any crimes, according to Sheriff T.K. Waters. However, Waters said he could neither condone nor condemn the officer’s actions during the stop and arrest because it was still under review by his agency.
(This story has been updated with a gallery.)