JACKSONVILLE — Cellphone video provided by the man involved in a February traffic stop shows a Jacksonville deputy punching him after breaking his car window before other deputies then joined in to remove him from the vehicle.
Authorities say the situation escalated after he refused to comply with orders to get out of his car.
JSO deputies said they pulled over 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. during the day, citing a lack of headlights and failure to wear a seatbelt.
In the video, deputies are seen yelling commands at McNeil before one of them punches through the driver’s side window and strikes him in the face. They then pull him out of the vehicle and strike him again.
McNeil also recorded the encounter using his phone from inside the car.
In his video, he questions the reason for the stop and argues with deputies before the situation turns physical.
According to the report, deputies claimed McNeil was reaching for a knife inside the car, and a knife is visible in the body camera footage.
However, McNeil’s attorney, Harry Daniels, said his client never reached for the weapon and that the officers’ actions were excessive.
“We watched the video and that did not happen,” Daniels said. “He was very confused as to why he was being pulled over for not having headlights on during the day.”
In a public statement, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters acknowledged the force used by officers, describing it as “ugly,” but defended its legality.
“There absolutely was force used by the arresting officers and yes that force is ugly,” Waters said. “Just because that force is ugly does not mean it’s unlawful.”
Authorities say the incident remains under internal review.
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