Investigation Launched After Controversial Arrest in Jacksonville Traffic Stop

A newly released video from February has caught public attention, showcasing a traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida, during which officers arrested a man after breaking his car window and striking him in the face. The individual, William McNeil Jr., shared the footage on social media, describing how he was pulled over for driving without his headlights on. He noted that he attempted to understand the reason for the stop and requested to speak with a supervisor, which led to an escalation of the situation.

In the footage, McNeil is seen being forcibly removed from his vehicle after an officer shattered his driver's side window. Following the incident, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office announced they would conduct an investigation into the matter due to the video going viral, although they mentioned that the State Attorney's Office found no criminal violations by the officers involved. They are currently performing both criminal and administrative investigations.

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is advocating for McNeil, criticized the officers' account of the situation, stating that their version does not align with the video evidence. He emphasized that McNeil's request for basic rights led to a violent response, which he argues is a troubling indication of systemic issues faced by Black Americans during encounters with law enforcement.

According to the arrest report, Officer D. Bowers claimed he pulled McNeil over for allegedly driving without his headlights in poor weather conditions and noted that McNeil was not wearing his seatbelt. Bowers stated that upon asking for McNeil's identification several times without compliance, he broke the car window to remove McNeil, who he claimed reached for a large knife in the vehicle. As a result, McNeil faced charges for marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, and resisting an officer, although he later pleaded guilty to resisting and driving with a suspended license.

At a press conference, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters released body camera footage, asserting that the viral video did not accurately represent the full context of the incidents leading to McNeil's arrest. Bowers has since been removed from duty pending an internal review. Waters reiterated the importance of complying with police directives, while also stating the sheriff's office had not received prior complaints from McNeil about the incident.

Crump contested the narrative presented in the arrest report, arguing that McNeil's actions were not combative and expressing doubt about the accusation of him reaching for a weapon. He pointed out that McNeil had videos showing he was indeed wearing his seatbelt at the time of the stop. Following the incident, McNeil reported suffering physical injuries, including a chipped tooth and stitches, and expressed ongoing mental distress related to the encounter.