A white Jacksonville police officer has been stripped of his duties after a video surfaced displaying him punching a 22-year-old Black man throughout a February site visitors cease in Florida.The footage, captured on William McNeil Jr.’s dashboard-mounted cellphone and broadly circulated on social media, exhibits him calmly seated in his car, requesting a sergeant after being stopped for allegedly driving with out headlights throughout daylight. McNeil explains, “It’s daytime, it’s not raining,” to which the officer replies, “It doesn’t matter, you’re nonetheless required to have headlights on.”McNeil, sporting a seatbelt, continues to hunt authorized clarification and supervision. Moments later, one other officer is seen smashing the driving force’s facet window and punching McNeil within the face whereas yelling for him to exit the car and present his arms. Further footage exhibits McNeil being dragged out, struck once more, and compelled to the bottom, sustaining a chin harm. “What the f–— is mistaken with you?” one officer is heard saying earlier than saying the arrest. 5 officers have been concerned within the detention.At a press briefing Monday, Jacksonville Sheriff T.Okay. Waters confirmed the officer who punched McNeil- recognized as Officer D. Bowers- has been “stripped of his legislation enforcement duties, efficient instantly.” Waters mentioned Bowers voluntarily waived his privateness rights to permit the discharge of police physique digital camera footage, although the punch itself was not captured on any of the three bodycams reviewed by investigators, in keeping with NBC Information.The cease befell on February 19. McNeil was charged with driving on a suspended license, resisting an officer with out violence, and possession of a small quantity of hashish. He later pleaded responsible to the primary two prices, in keeping with the sheriff.Sheriff Waters defended the legality of the cease and the duty to adjust to police orders, stating, “The legislation requires that an individual adjust to a police officer’s command throughout a site visitors cease. There will not be choices. Even when that individual disagrees with that officer’s motive for the cease.” Nonetheless, he declined to defend Bowers’ actions, noting, “I cannot commend nor defend Officer Bowers’ response.”Regardless of the incident being recorded on McNeil’s cellphone, Waters mentioned the state lawyer cleared all three officers concerned, partially as a result of none had seen the punch firsthand.Civil rights lawyer Harry Daniels, representing McNeil, condemned the response: “William felt like his rights have been being trampled upon by being stopped in the course of the day for not having headlights on. That’s a brand new one. The officers might have simply dispatched a sergeant to the scene to de-escalate.” Jacksonville Sheriff’s workplace has launched an inside investigation amid footage going viral and widespread backlash.
