Black Man Punched by Florida Officer Calls on DOJ to Investigate Civil Rights Violations
A 22-year-old Black man who was struck in the face by a Jacksonville, Florida police officer during a February traffic stop is urging the Department of Justice to launch an investigation into the incident.
Attorneys for William McNeil Jr. submitted a letter to the DOJ’s civil rights division on Sunday, as stated in a news release, arguing that he was unlawfully stopped and assaulted during the encounter, which he recorded on his cellphone. The video later went viral on social media.
“It’s not just how violent and brutal these officers were,” a news release from the attorneys reads. “It’s that they were absolutely unapologetic because they knew no one was going to hold them accountable. It’s clear that the State Attorney’s Office refuses to do anything about it. So we’re calling on the Department of Justice.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it could not comment on pending litigation.
According to authorities, McNeil was pulled over on Feb. 19 by Officer D. Bowers and several other officers for allegedly driving without his headlights on during the day. In the footage, McNeil is seen remaining in the driver’s seat with his seatbelt fastened, asking to speak with a supervisor. He explains on camera that he was stopped for his headlights being off, despite it being daylight and not raining.
McNeil was reluctant to exit his vehicle, Daniels and Crump wrote in the letter. Moments later, the video shows Bowers smashing the driver’s-side window and punching McNeil in the face while ordering him to get out of the car and show his hands.
“What happened to William McNeil Jr. is not only a personal tragedy, but also sends a devastating message to Jacksonville residents. When police brutality is caught on video and prosecutors still look the other way, it tells the community their lives don’t matter,” the letter reads. “That is why we are calling on the Department of Justice to intervene, because federal oversight is the only path left to restore trust and deliver justice.”
The cellphone, mounted on McNeil’s dashboard, captured the encounter. McNeil never submitted a complaint to the department or shared the footage with local authorities, according to reports.
