Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters is standing by his officers after a video showing a 22-year-old man being punched during a traffic stop went viral, sparking outrage and questions about police use of force.
The incident, which took place on February 19, began when officers pulled over William Anthony McNeil Jr. for allegedly driving without headlights. The viral video, recorded in daylight, shows McNeil questioning the stop, saying it wasn’t raining.
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Sheriff Waters said the short clip doesn’t tell the full story, explaining that McNeil locked himself in his car and refused to comply. Officers ultimately broke his window to remove him, with one officer punching McNeil during the arrest.
McNeil faces charges including resisting an officer, driving on a suspended license, not wearing a seatbelt, and possession of a small amount of marijuana.
Despite backlash, Sheriff Waters said the State Attorney’s Office reviewed the incident and found no criminal wrongdoing by the officers. Still, JSO has launched both criminal and administrative reviews and released body camera footage from Officer Bowers to maintain transparency.
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Even with the Sheriff defending the actions, the video continues to stir anger online.
