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 smok
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.
