Caught On Camera: Florida Cop Punches Black Man During Traffic Stop, Stripped Of Duties After Outcry

US Viral Video: A Jacksonville police officer has been taken off duty after a viral video showed him breaking the window of a vehicle and punching a Black man during a traffic stop. The incident, which occurred on February 19, resurfaced after the video was publicly released by civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels on July 20, sparking renewed outrage and prompting an internal investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The video, lasting about two minutes, shows 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. being pulled over for allegedly driving without headlights in daylight. McNeil can be seen calmly questioning the stop, asking officers why he was being detained and requesting to speak with a supervisor.

According to NBC News, McNeil argued that it was daytime and not raining, so his headlights weren’t needed. He also asked officers to show him the specific law he was allegedly violating. As tensions escalated, an officer broke the driver's side window and punched McNeil in the face while ordering him to exit the vehicle. The video shows McNeil with his hands visible, seated in his SUV, repeating the question: “What is your reason?” Moments later, he is pulled out of the vehicle by multiple officers, punched again, and shoved to the ground. At least three officers are seen surrounding him.

Attorney Says McNeil Was Scared, Recorded For Safety

Speaking to People, attorney Harry Daniels said McNeil was fearful from the moment he was stopped. “It is not uncommon for young African American men to be afraid of the police when they encounter us, considering the history of what's happened in this country,” Daniels said. He added that McNeil secretly recorded the interaction by propping his phone up in the vehicle. “They didn’t know he was recording,” Daniels said.

Daniels criticized the officers for failing to de-escalate the situation, saying they could have easily called a supervisor, as McNeil requested, rather than resorting to violence.

Injuries And Charges

McNeil sustained multiple injuries during the encounter, according to Daniels. His tooth pierced his lip, requiring stitches; he also chipped a tooth, suffered a concussion, and is now experiencing short-term memory issues.

Court records reviewed by People show McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license. Other charges, including marijuana possession, were dropped.

Police Account And Administrative Action

According to the arrest report, officers claimed McNeil was uncooperative from the start, refused to provide identification, locked his car doors, and ignored seven commands to exit the vehicle. Authorities also reported finding less than 20 grams of marijuana and a large knife on the floorboard of the car. Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the incident publicly, saying that although the officer’s actions appeared violent, they did not violate criminal law. “The law requires that a person comply with a police officer’s command during a traffic stop. There are not options—even if that person disagrees with that officer’s reason for the stop,” Waters said, as quoted by NBC News.

The officer who punched McNeil, identified as D. Bowers, has been “stripped of his law enforcement duties, effective immediately,” according to the sheriff’s office. Waters added that the internal review is ongoing, but no criminal charges will be filed against any of the officers involved. “Just because force is ugly doesn’t mean that it’s unlawful or contrary to public policy,” Waters said.

Internal Review Continues

While the State Attorney’s Office concluded that no criminal laws were violated, the administrative investigation by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office remains ongoing. McNeil's attorneys say they are considering further legal action.