A violent traffic stop involving 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. has ignited national outrage after dashcam footage revealed Jacksonville deputies punching him during a routine stop.
The incident occurred on February 19. Deputies pulled McNeil over, alleging he lacked headlights in cloudy weather and wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. McNeil calmly asked for clarification and requested to speak with a supervisor. Instead, one officer shattered his window and began punching him repeatedly while McNeil remained seated with hands visible.
Officers dragged him out of the vehicle and struck him again. McNeil suffered a chipped tooth, a split lip needing stitches, and a concussion. He was later charged with resisting arrest and driving with a suspended license. Authorities dropped the seatbelt and headlight violations.
The video, released last week, quickly went viral. Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, now representing McNeil, condemned the officers’ actions as unlawful and excessive. “William did everything right he stayed calm, asked questions, and showed no threat,” Daniels said.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters defended the stop but admitted the footage looked “ugly.” The officer involved has been removed from active duty pending an internal review.
Meanwhile, protests have erupted across Jacksonville. Advocates argue this case reflects a broader pattern of excessive force and racial bias in policing.
As legal proceedings move forward, McNeil’s experience has become a rallying point for justice reform and police accountability nationwide.
