No criminal charges against FL officers seen punching man in viral traffic stop
A Florida sheriff said there was ”no violation of criminal law” found among officers who were seen punching and beating a 22-year-old Black man in a viral cell phone video posted on social media. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters announced the findings and released new body camera footage of the arrest of William Anthony McNeil on Monday, July 21.
The footage shows sheriff’s deputies repeatedly striking McNeil during a traffic stop on Feb. 19. In the video, McNeil repeatedly asks why he was stopped and refuses to leave his vehicle.
The findings and pending review
During a press conference on Monday, Waters said, “The State Attorney’s Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law.” However, he noted that the deputies’ actions are now undergoing an “administrative review,” which will determine if the officers violated department policies. Waters also identified the deputy who is seen breaking McNeil’s car window and punching him in the video as officer D. Bowers.
“These administrative reviews are ongoing,” Waters said. “But the State Attorney’s Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law, even though the administrative review has yet to be completed.”
Pending the outcome, Officer Bowers has been stripped of his law enforcement authority, according to Waters. However, the sheriff did not confirm whether other deputies involved in the arrest had been placed on administrative leave.
McNeil to pursue legal action
The attorney representing McNeil, Harry Daniels, told ABC News that McNeil will pursue legal action in the case.
“This officer broke his window and punched him in the face,” Daniels told ABC News Anchor Kyra Phillips in an interview. “Mr. McNeil suffered very significant injury.” Daniels added, “We are planning to do everything we can do to secure justice. We are seeking all options to ensure accountability.”
Charges against McNeil
McNeil was charged with resisting arrest without violence, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license, failing to wear a seatbelt and driving with no headlights in inclement weather.
Court records obtained by ABC News also note that McNeil was sentenced and served two days in jail for the charge of “resisting arrest without violence to his or her person” and driving under a suspended license.
“McNeil was arrested and pled guilty to resisting a police officer without violence,” Waters stated. “Force absolutely looks ugly, and because all force is ugly, whether or not the officer involved acted within outside JSO policy, that’s what we’re investigating.”
Sheriff responds
Waters was questioned by reporters about the use of force by officers, specifically Bowers, against McNeil, noting that McNeil had never acted violently.
“It’s important for people to know that you don’t — you’re not allowed to resist a police officer when he’s doing his lawful duties,” Waters said.
He also said that the JSO began a review of the incident as soon as they were made aware of the video.
“I will neither defend nor commend officer Bowers’ response to resistance until all the facts are known and the investigation is completed,” Waters emphasized.
Bowers has not publicly commented on the incident, and it is unknown whether he has retained legal counsel.
What the video shows
The body camera footage released on Monday shows McNeil’s arrest in February.
He was pulled over by sheriff’s deputies after being accused of failing to turn on his headlights in “inclement weather” and failing to wear a seatbelt, as documented in a police report obtained by ABC News. Footage shows McNeil arguing with deputies that it wasn’t raining, so he didn’t need to turn his headlights on, and requesting to speak with a supervisor.
As McNeil locked himself inside his car and refused to get out, the deputy warned he would break McNeil’s window and calls in backup, as heard on the video.
“There’s no rain,” McNeil tells officers.
“It doesn’t matter,” a deputy responds.
Why McNeil refused to leave his vehicle
Daniels told ABC News that McNeil remained in his vehicle because he was “afraid” of law enforcement.
“He is afraid. You know, in this environment, policing in America, especially young men of color, are very afraid of police,” Daniels said.
He also mentioned that McNeil began recording the incident after the deputy denied his request to call in a supervisor so he could dispute the reason for being pulled over.
After McNeil again asked to speak to a supervisor, the footage shows Bowers smashing McNeil’s driver’s side window and punching him in the face. He is then pulled from the vehicle, thrown to the ground, and struck again by multiple officers.
Throughout the footage, deputies repeatedly say, “You’re under arrest” as they pin McNeil to the ground.
Public reaction
The initial cell phone video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times on social media, and many have expressed anger with the officers’ actions. Waters acknowledged the outrage during the press conference.
“One piece of evidence considered in a vacuum without any context can lead to skewed conclusions,” Waters said about the cell phone video. “When incomplete cell phone camera footage becomes the basis on which public opinion turns, the results can be equally faulty. A rush to judgment, whether it be a criminal investigation or in a court of public opinion, can lead to flawed conclusions.”
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
