JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A 22-year-old Black man, William McNeil Jr., who was violently struck by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officers during a February 19, 2025, traffic stop captured in a viral video, has retained nationally renowned civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him in his pursuit of justice. The announcement came Sunday night, July 20, 2025, following the video’s widespread circulation on social media, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views and sparked public outrage.
The incident, which occurred around 4:17 p.m. on February 19, 2025, began when JSO officers pulled McNeil over, citing that his vehicle’s headlights and taillights were off during inclement weather and that he was not wearing a seatbelt. According to the viral cellphone video posted by McNeil on July 20, he questioned the validity of the stop, noting it was still daylight and not raining, and that other drivers were also operating without headlights. An officer responded, “It doesn’t matter, you’re still required to have headlights on.” When McNeil requested to speak to a supervisor, the situation escalated.The video shows an officer smashing McNeil’s driver-side window, punching him in the head, unbuckling his seatbelt, and forcibly removing him from his SUV. Once outside, multiple officers surrounded McNeil, with one grabbing his head and striking him in the chin before forcing him to the ground. McNeil can be heard saying, “What do you mean, I was putting my hands behind my back,” while officers shouted commands like “Stop fighting” and “Hands behind your back.” The video ends with McNeil being handcuffed, and officers noting marijuana in his pocket.
McNeil’s attorneys confirmed he sustained significant injuries, including a chipped tooth, a concussion, nine stitches in his lip, and short-term memory loss. Following the incident, he was arrested and taken to jail. Court records indicate McNeil was adjudicated guilty of resisting an officer without violence and driving on a suspended license, serving two days in jail. Charges for marijuana possession, not wearing a seatbelt, and driving without headlights were reportedly dismissed.
“This is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you’ve been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans,” said attorneys Crump and Daniels in a joint statement. “William was calm and compliant. Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight. This wasn’t law enforcement, it was brutality.” They demanded full transparency from JSO, including the release of all video footage, and called for accountability.
The JSO police report offers a differing account, stating McNeil was “verbally combative,” refused to provide identification, locked his door, and reached for a “large knife” on the driver’s seat floor as officers removed him. Notably, the report does not mention the officer punching McNeil while he was still in the vehicle, despite the video evidence.JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters responded to the video on July 20, stating, “We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025. We have launched an internal investigation into it and the circumstances surrounding this incident.” On July 21, Waters announced that the officers involved were cleared of criminal wrongdoing by the State Attorney’s Office, but the JSO’s internal review remains ongoing. During a press conference, body-worn camera footage was presented, showing McNeil closing his car door after interacting with Officer D. Bowers, who had informed him he was under arrest for resisting.
The incident has drawn significant attention from local leaders and organizations. Florida State Representative Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) posted on social media, expressing concern and announcing she had sent a formal letter to Sheriff Waters demanding action. “My office demands truth, transparency, and accountability,” Nixon stated, citing multiple complaints about JSO’s handling of public inquiries and alleged misconduct. The Jacksonville Branch of the NAACP also issued a statement on July 21, condemning the officers’ actions and calling for systemic reform. Florida Senator Shevrin Jones (D-34) described the video as “deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable,” highlighting issues of racial bias and excessive force.
Attorneys Crump and Daniels pointed to a pattern of excessive force by JSO, referencing prior incidents, including the 2023 viral video of officers beating 24-year-old Le’Keian Woods and a 2019 federal lawsuit over the killing of 22-year-old Jamee Johnson during a traffic stop. “The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a long history of this kind of needless violence and brutality,” Daniels said. “That officer that punched and beat him and the ones who watched and did nothing should be held to the same rule of law that everyone else is held to.”The viral video has prompted widespread discussion online, with tens of thousands sharing and commenting on the footage. Attorney Chris Carson, who reviewed the video, told Action News Jax, “It doesn’t really seem there was any criminal behavior that was alleged on the part of the gentleman. It’s a traffic stop. It happens 100 times a day.” Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan also issued a statement on July 21, calling the video “disturbing” and supporting the ongoing investigation.
As the internal investigation continues, McNeil’s legal team is pushing for justice and transparency. “All video from JSO should be released to ensure there is transparency for McNeil and the community,” their statement concluded. The case has reignited debates about police conduct, racial bias, and the use of force in Jacksonville, with many calling for systemic changes to prevent such incidents in the future.This is a developing story, and further updates are expected as the JSO investigation progresses and McNeil’s legal team pursues action.
