In a recent announcement, local sheriff T.K. Waters confirmed that prosecutors will not be bringing criminal charges against the sheriff’s officers involved in a controversial incident during a traffic stop in Jacksonville, Florida. The incident, which took place on February 19, involved the arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr., a 22-year-old Black man. According to body-camera footage released by the sheriff’s office, officers stopped McNeil for allegedly driving without his headlights on and not wearing a seat belt.
Footage from the body cameras reveals a tense interaction between McNeil and the officers. After being questioned about the reasons for the stop, McNeil refused to exit his vehicle, prompting one officer to smash his window and punch him in the face. A police report later indicated that McNeil reached for the floorboard, where an unsheathed knife was discovered. However, publicly available video does not show McNeil leaning towards the knife at any point during the confrontation.
On Monday, Sheriff Waters stated that local prosecutors have determined that none of the sheriff’s officers involved in the incident violated criminal law. The 4th Judicial Circuit State Attorney’s Office has refrained from commenting on the case as an investigation continues to assess whether the officers breached departmental policy. In the meantime, the officer who initiated the traffic stop has been stripped of his law enforcement authority.
During a news conference, Sheriff Waters emphasized that the cellphone video footage shared on social media does not provide a complete picture of the events. “Cameras can only capture what can be seen and heard,” he said, stressing that the nuanced context surrounding the incident is often lost in recorded footage. This statement has drawn criticism from civil rights advocates and attorneys representing McNeil, who argue that the incident highlights systemic issues within law enforcement.
Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, representing McNeil, issued a statement describing the incident as a “disturbing reminder” of the violence that Black Americans can face when questioning law enforcement actions. They asserted that McNeil was calm and compliant, yet was met with aggression that escalated dramatically over what they deemed a questionable traffic stop. “This wasn’t law enforcement; it was brutality,” they declared.
As documented in the footage, the interaction escalated when McNeil initially opened his car door to speak with the officer. Upon learning the reasons behind the stop, McNeil questioned the claims, noting that it was daylight and not raining. When asked for his identification, he requested that the officer’s supervisor be called, furthering a standoff that led to the officer calling for backup.
The situation intensified when the officer informed McNeil that he would face arrest for resisting. As McNeil remained in his vehicle, the officer warned him that failure to comply would result in a broken window. Shortly thereafter, the officer smashed the driver-side window and struck McNeil in the face as he attempted to remove him from the vehicle.
During the arrest, McNeil was surrounded by multiple officers who continued to use force, with one officer striking him again as they pinned him to the ground. According to the police report, McNeil suffered a chipped tooth and visible injuries. After the incident, McNeil was charged with resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, to which he later pleaded guilty, receiving a sentence of two days served.
In light of the incident, Sheriff Waters acknowledged that the use of force during the arrest may appear “ugly.” He reiterated that the investigation into whether the officers acted within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office policies is ongoing. Furthermore, he stated that motorists are obligated to comply with officers during traffic stops, asserting, “There are not options.”
This incident has reignited concerns over excessive force and accountability within the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, which has faced similar allegations in recent years. As the community grapples with the implications of this case, the dialogue surrounding police conduct and systemic reforms continues to evolve.
