Florida Authorities Investigate Viral Video Showing Officer Punching Black Driver During Traffic Stop (video)

Video of William McNeil Jr.'s February arrest was released by his attorneys and quickly went viral

Authorities in Florida have opened an internal investigation after a video showing a police officer smashing a car window and punching a Black driver in the face during a traffic stop in Jacksonville went viral. The incident occurred in February and has since drawn widespread attention after the video was publicly released on July 20 by the driver's attorneys.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirmed the investigation, stating it is reviewing the use of force during the arrest of William McNeil Jr. The two-minute video, recorded by McNeil himself, shows a tense exchange during the stop, in which he repeatedly questions the reasons behind the police action.

In the footage, McNeil, seated in his SUV, is heard asking why he’s being pulled over. An officer twice commands him to exit the vehicle before abruptly smashing the driver’s side window and striking McNeil in the face. McNeil had complied earlier with a request to show his hands and remained seated throughout the initial interaction.

Another officer is then seen opening the door, unbuckling McNeil’s seatbelt, and forcibly pulling him from the vehicle. As McNeil continues asking, “What is your reason?”, the officer who shattered the window is seen punching him again while another officer can be heard shouting, “Stop fighting.”

According to the police arrest report, McNeil was stopped for allegedly driving without headlights or taillights during inclement weather and not wearing a seatbelt. The report claims McNeil became verbally combative, refused to provide identification, locked his door, and ignored multiple warnings before the officer broke the window.

Authorities say marijuana was discovered in the vehicle, along with a large knife located on the floor near the driver's seat, which McNeil allegedly reached for during the arrest. McNeil’s tooth was reportedly chipped after being handcuffed, and officers noted visible blood on his mouth.

Court records show McNeil was adjudicated guilty of resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license. Citations for failure to wear a seatbelt and driving without headlights were dismissed.

McNeil’s legal team, including civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, condemned the officers' actions. Daniels emphasized that McNeil had feared for his safety and recorded the encounter with his phone without officers' knowledge.

“It is not uncommon for young African American men to be afraid of the police when they encounter us, considering the history of what's happening in this country,” Daniels said.

Daniels added that McNeil suffered a concussion, a chipped tooth, and required multiple stitches after his tooth pierced his lip during the assault. McNeil is also reportedly dealing with short-term memory issues as a result of the incident.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the internal affairs division is actively reviewing the matter.