Sheriff releases body camera footage in violent arrest that went viral
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters released body camera footage of the violent arrest of William Anthony McNeil, Jr., a 22-year-old Black man, after cellphone video capturing part of the incident went viral on social media.
The video shows sheriff's deputies beating and punching McNeil during a traffic stop after he repeatedly questioned why he was being pulled over and refused to exit his vehicle in an incident that occurred on Feb. 19, 2025.
Waters said that "the State Attorney's Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law," but highlighted that the deputies' actions are now being examined in an "administrative review," which will determine if the deputies "violated JSO policy." He also identified the deputy who broke the car window and punched McNeil as officer D. Bowers.
"These administrative reviews are ongoing, 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," Waters said.
"Pending the outcome of this administrative review, Officer Bowers has been stripped of his law enforcement authority," Waters said. It is unclear if other deputies involved in the arrest have been placed on administrative leave. ABC News has reached out to JSO and the Florida State Attorney's Office for further comment.
Harry Daniels, an attorney representing McNeil, told ABC News Live anchor Kyra Phillips in an interview on Monday afternoon that his client plans to take legal action.
"This officer broke his window and just punched him in his face. Mr. McNeil suffered very significant injury," Daniels said.
"We are planning to do everything we can do to secure justice," Daniels said when asked if the legal team plans to file a lawsuit. "We are seeking all options to ensure accountability."
Court records show that McNeil was arrested and charged with "resisting arrest without violence to his or her person," possessing not more than 20 grams of marijuana with intent to use drug paraphernalia, driving while driver's license is suspended, not wearing a seatbelt and no headlights in rain/fog/or smoke.
Additionally, court records show that he was sentenced to and served two days in jail for resisting arrest without violence and driving with a suspended license.
"McNeil was arrested and pled guilty to resisting a police officer without violence," Waters said. "Force absolutely looks ugly, and because all force is ugly, whether or not the officer involved acted within outside JSO policy, that's still what we're investigating."
Waters was repeatedly pressed by reporters during the press conference on Monday on the use of force that deputies, particularly Bowers, used against McNeil, pointing out that McNeil was not violent.
Waters pushed back in a combative exchange, took issue with a reporter characterizing Bowers as "sucker punching" McNeil, and said that it depends on the "context."
"It's important for the 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.
According to Waters, JSO launched an investigation into the incident as soon as they became 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 said.
It is unclear if Bowers has retained an attorney. ABC News has reached out to JSO for further comment.
The body camera video released shows Jacksonville Sheriff's Office (JSO) deputies' violent arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr.
McNeil was pulled over by a sheriff's deputy at 4:15 p.m. local time for allegedly not having his headlights on due to "inclement weather" and not wearing a seat belt, according to a police report obtained by ABC News. Video shows McNeil telling the deputy that it wasn't raining and he didn't need to have his headlights turned on and asked to speak with a supervisor. After McNeil locks himself in his vehicle and repeatedly refuses to exit, the deputy threatens to break his window and calls for backup, the video shows.
"There's no rain," McNeil says in the video.
"It doesn't matter," a sheriff's deputy can be heard saying as they ask him to exit his vehicle.
Daniels told Phillips in the interview on Monday that McNeil refused to exit his vehicle because he was "afraid" of police.
"He is afraid. You know, in this environment, policing in America, especially young men of color, are very afraid of police," Daniels said, adding that his client decided to begin recording the incident once the deputy refused to call a supervisor so he can dispute the traffic stop.
Moments after McNeil again asks to speak with a supervisor, the video shows deputy Bowers breaking his car window and punching him in the face while McNeil is facing forward. McNeil then appears to be pulled out of his car and is punched again as he is pushed down to the ground by multiple deputies and seemingly beaten.
"You're under arrest," officers can be heard saying.
"You're under arrest," officers can be heard saying as they push McNeil to the ground and hold him down.
