Video Shows Florida Officer Punching A Black Man During A Traffic Stop

A Jacksonville, Florida, constabulary serviceman was "stripped of his duties" Monday aft a video online showed nan achromatic serviceman punching a Black man successful nan look during a postulation extremity successful February, authorities said.

William McNeil Jr., 22, was pulled complete by an serviceman pinch nan Jacksonville Sheriff's Office connected Feb. 19 for driving without his headlights connected during nan day, Sheriff T.K. Waters said astatine a news conference.

In nan video posted connected Instagram connected Saturday, McNeil is seen sitting successful his car, asking to speak pinch a sergeant. He says he was pulled complete because his headlights were disconnected moreover though it was still daylight and not raining.

“It doesn’t matter, you’re still required to person headlights on,” an serviceman responds connected nan video.

McNeil, sitting down nan steering instrumentality pinch his spot loop fastened, asks an serviceman to show him nan rule nan serviceman was citing and asks to speak pinch a supervisor.

Five seconds later, different serviceman breaks nan driver’s-side model and punches McNeil successful nan look while instructing him to get retired of nan car and show his hands.

During nan encounter, officers inquire McNeil 7 times to exit his vehicle.

Waters said astatine nan news convention that McNeil did not travel officers' commands aft he was being ordered retired of nan car, which roseate to nan level of criminal resistance.

“The rule requires that a personification comply pinch a constabulary officer’s bid during a postulation stop. There are not options,” Waters said. “Even if that personification disagrees pinch that officer’s logic for nan stop.”

Waters said McNeil was arrested successful relationship pinch driving connected a suspended driver's license, resisting a constabulary serviceman without unit and possessing little than 20 grams of marijuana.

McNeil yet pleaded blameworthy to resisting a constabulary serviceman and driving connected a suspended license, Waters said.

During nan news conference, sheriff's officials showed 3 constabulary assemblage camera videos, nary of which captured nan infinitesimal erstwhile an serviceman identified only arsenic "D. Bowers" punched McNeil successful nan look aft he refused to get retired of his car.

McNeil recorded nan relationship connected his cellphone, which was successful a holder connected his dashboard.

While nan authorities attorney's agency cleared Bowers and 2 different officers of immoderate wrongdoing, it had not seen nan punch, Waters said.

The relationship is now nether soul reappraisal by nan sheriff's office, he said.

"I will not commend nor take sides Officer Bowers' response," Waters said, adding that Bowers waived his privateness authorities to let nan assemblage camera video to beryllium released. "He's been stripped of his rule enforcement duties, effective immediately.

“Just because unit is disfigured doesn’t mean that it’s unlawful aliases contrary to nationalist policy.”

Officers tin beryllium seen successful nan video pulling McNeil from his conveyance and punching him successful nan look again earlier they shove him to nan ground, lacerating his chin.

“What nan f–-- is incorrect pinch you?” 1 of nan officers says earlier different tells McNeil he is being arrested. At slightest 5 officers tin beryllium seen detaining him.

The Instagram video had received much than 27,000 comments and been shared much than 100,00 times arsenic of Monday afternoon.

Another of McNeil's attorneys, Harry Daniels, said: “William felt for illustration his authorities were being trampled upon by being stopped during nan time for not having headlights on. That’s a caller one.

“The officers could person easy dispatched a sergeant to nan segment to de-escalate,” he said.

Waters said McNeil ne'er revenge a title pinch nan section nor showed nan video to authorities.

In 2023, nan metropolis of Jacksonville paid $200,000 to nan family of Jamee Johnson, a 22-year-old Black student astatine Florida A&M University, aft an serviceman pulled him complete and changeable him during a postulation extremity for a spot loop usurpation successful 2019.

The section came nether scrutiny successful 2023 aft body camera video showed a detective striking Le’Keian Woods, a 24-year-old Black man, successful nan look astatine slightest doubly and a 2nd detective kneeing him arsenic they repeated commands for him to show his hands.

Woods had fled erstwhile officers tried to apprehension him successful relationship pinch supplier dealing and officers believed he was armed, nan Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said astatine nan time.