TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – William McNeill Jr., punched during a traffic stop in Jacksonville, is preparing to take legal action against the city.
McNeil and civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels announce federal lawsuits against Jacksonville executive D. Bowers and the city of Jacksonville.
The incident, which took place on February 19, 2025, sparked national rage when McNeill, a 22-year-old college student, punched and dragged him out of his car.
McNeil’s lawyer said the video on the client’s mobile phone provides a clear example of police brutality, pointing out that the man threatened the officer and raised his hand after punching his face for the first time.
“It’s clear to anyone watching this video that William McNeal is not a threat to anyone,” Crump said. “He was calmly exercising his constitutional rights, so they defeated him.”
“I’m absolutely tired of the actions of these officers, but unfortunately I’m not surprised,” Daniels said. “The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has a long history of this kind of unnecessary violence and atrocities.”
However, prosecutors cleared up criminal misconduct to Bowers, saying traffic stops and use of force were justified.
“The State Attorney’s Office has considered this issue and determined whether Officer Bowers’ actions constitute a crime,” a report from the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit said. “We conclude that is not the case.”
In addition to the federal lawsuit, McNeill’s legal team has asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the case to see if the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office violated McNeill’s rights.
“It’s not just how violent and brutal these officers are, they know none of them are accountable, so they definitely have no attitude,” Daniels said. “It’s clear that the state attorney’s office is refusing to do anything about it, so we’re calling the Department of Justice.”
“The state attorney’s office is as horrifying as its assault that it is in itself just as terrifying as the assault that it holds these officers responsible for their actions and does not explicitly ignore the rule of law,” Crump said.
The federal lawsuit will be announced at 11am Wednesday.
