Outrage Grows After Video Shows Florida Deputies Punching Black Man

A shocking video showing Jacksonville sheriff’s deputies punching a Black man during a routine traffic stop has gone viral, igniting public outrage and prompting an internal investigation.

The footage, posted to Instagram over the weekend, shows 22-year-old William Anthony McNeil Jr. questioning why he was pulled over. Moments later, one deputy smashes his window and punches him in the face. McNeil is dragged out, struck again, and forced to the ground.

The incident occurred on February 19, but the public only saw the footage recently. After it went viral, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office opened an administrative review. Officials stated that the State Attorney’s Office found no criminal wrongdoing by the deputies involved.

However, civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing McNeil, strongly disagrees.

“Even asking why you’ve been pulled over can lead to violence if you’re Black in America,” Crump said in a statement.

In the video, McNeil calmly asks why he was stopped. He questions the legality of the traffic stop and asks to speak with a supervisor. A deputy then tells his partner to “go for it,” triggering the violent takedown.

McNeil later said he suffered a concussion, chipped tooth, and short-term memory loss. His Instagram video has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times.

Sheriff T.K. Waters responded, claiming the video lacked full context. He said McNeil refused to hand over his license, locked his door, and ignored repeated commands to exit the car. According to Waters, deputies warned him they would break the window if he didn’t comply.

Bodycam footage released by the sheriff’s office shows McNeil being told why he was pulled over—his headlights weren’t on. After locking the door, he was repeatedly asked to exit the car. The footage shows McNeil being pulled from the vehicle and restrained, though the actual punches are not clearly visible.

The deputy who smashed the window, D. Bowers, has been removed from duty during the investigation. Officers also reported finding a large knife on the floor of McNeil’s car.

McNeil was charged with resisting an officer without violence, driving on a suspended license, and possessing under 20 grams of marijuana. He pleaded guilty to the first two charges.

Attorney Harry Daniels, who also represents McNeil, said they plan to take legal action.

“Mr. McNeil posed no threat and did not deserve such violent treatment,” the Jacksonville NAACP said in a statement.

This incident adds to a growing list of controversial police encounters across the U.S. and raises new concerns about the use of force during traffic stops, especially involving Black Americans.

Source: The Huff Post