An arrest in Florida has ignited nationwide debate after video footage surfaced last month showing deputies breaking William McNeil Jr.’s window and repeatedly striking him during a traffic stop, resulting in multiple injuries.
The incident occurred on Feb. 19, when deputies with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office stopped McNeil, a 22-year-old man, for alleged headlight and seatbelt violations. The body camera footage shows McNeil questioning the reason for being stopped, requesting a supervisor then remaining inside his vehicle for several minutes. Deputies reported that McNeil locked his doors and refused to exit the vehicle despite repeated commands.
On July 20, McNeil released cellphone footage of his arrest that has since gone viral on social media, sparking outrage.
The video shows McNeil seated with his hands raised as officers ordered him to exit. Moments later, officer Deputy D. Bowers used a window-punch tool to break the driver’s side window. The recording captured the scene as deputies unbuckled and pulled McNeil from his vehicle and struck him multiple times while restraining him on the ground.
In an interview with NBC News, McNeil recalled feeling frightened during the encounter.
“I grew up believing officers were there to protect us, but that wasn’t the case,” he said.
McNeil sustained a concussion, a chipped tooth and required stitches, as reported by BBC.
He later pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer without violence along with driving with a suspended license, according to court records. However, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced that the officers involved in the violent arrest and beating of McNeil will not face criminal charges, according to Democracy Now.
While Jacksonville officials, such as Sheriff Waters, argue that the officers acted within policy, civil rights lawyers and advocates, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, representing McNeil, said the level of force used reflects a wider trend of aggressive policing tactics, particularly in situations involving Black individuals.
“What happened to William McNeil Jr. 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. This wasn’t law enforcement, it was brutality,” Crump said.
McNeil’s arrest has fueled debate over rising instances of police brutality and the use of excessive force by law enforcement nationwide, particularly in D.C., where the deployment of the National Guard has drawn scrutiny.
Critics, such as Joseph Nunn and Elizabeth Goitein at the Brennan Center for Justice, dedicated to justice reform and revitalizing democracy, have also noted that similar debates arose when the National Guard was deployed in Washington, D.C. during periods of protest, with both instances prompting questions about whether state responses were proportional to the perceived threats.
Kessonga Allen, a third-year student at Howard, expressed his concerns about McNeil’s arrest, drawing parallels with ongoing events in D.C.
Allen described the encounter as an example of police using excessive force and said it reflects a broader pattern of discriminatory treatment toward Black communities.
“There’s been an increased police presence in D.C., I’ve even had friends get pulled over by the police. There are parallels between McNeil’s situation and what’s happening in D.C. because it’s the same system,” Allen said.
Allen emphasized the need for enhanced law enforcement training, as well as appropriate prosecution and administrative measures to address police brutality.
“I want to see more understanding and more mindfulness towards people,” Allen said.
Copy edited by Damenica Ellis
