Body camera footage released after violent Florida traffic stop goes viral
The latest video of the Feb. 19 arrest of William Anthony McNeil Jr. shows the perspective of two officers responding to the stop that began when McNeil was pulled over for a headlight and seatbelt violation in Jacksonville. The new body camera videos show officers confronting McNeil – and punching him – after he questioned why he was pulled over and refused to get out of the car.
The release comes after cellphone video McNeil recorded of his interaction with officers gained viral traction online. That footage prompted a criminal review that ended with prosecutors clearing the law enforcement officials of any wrongdoing.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters explains what happened when officers used deadly force on a suspect July 15, 2025.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said at a news conference on July 21 that "one video devoid of context can be very misleading," referring to the cellphone footage that sparked backlash over the agency's handling of the traffic stop. Waters also said McNeil was in possession of marijuana and officers found a knife in the vehicle.
D.J. Bowers, the officer who smashed McNeil's window and punched him at least twice, has been put on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal review of whether he violated the agency's policies. In a separate criminal review, local prosecutors determined "none of the involved officers violated criminal law," Waters said.
McNeil retained civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels to represent him.
'This wasn't law enforcement, it was brutality," McNeil's legal team said in a joint statement on July 21. "We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and justice for William McNeil Jr."
William McNeil Jr. is shown as his driver's side window is broken by police during a traffic stop in February 2025.
Two days after his arrest, McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting police without violence and driving with a suspended license, court records show. He was sentenced to two days already served in jail, and a misdemeanor marijuana charge was dropped.
McNeil repeatedly struck by officers during traffic stop, arrest
The body camera footage begins with Officer Bowers approaching McNeil and telling him he was stopped for not having his headlights on during "inclement weather" as well as a seatbelt violation.
McNeil, speaking to Bowers through his open front door because his driver's side window wasn't working, said he did not need to have his headlights on because "it's daylight" and "it's not raining."
McNeil then refused to provide his license and registration and requested to speak with a supervisor. After Bowers told him to step out of the vehicle, McNeil said "no" and closed the door. Footage shows Bowers trying to open it before he radioed that it was locked.
'Right now, you're under arrest for resisting," Bowers said. "The longer you take … the worse it's gonna be.'
When another officer pulled in front of McNeil's car, Bowers said "Sir, this is your last warning to open the vehicle and exit before we are going to break the window."
A short while later, McNeil lowered the passenger window and spoke briefly with another officer. Bowers again said he was about to break the window and was told to "go for it" by a fellow officer.
Bowers smashed in the driver's side window and punched McNeil in the head. McNeil, who remained nonviolent, raised his hands and asked "What is your reason, sir?"
Officers pulled McNeil out of the car and forced him to the ground, where body camera video shows officers striking him as he was face down on the pavement. In McNeil's cellphone footage, it appears Bowers punched him in the head after he was taken out of the car and before he was brought to the ground.
Footage shows McNeil's face bloodied after the scuffle. Near the end of the footage, Bowers radioed in for a unit to look at a cut on McNeil's lip.
Contributing: Steve Patterson, The Florida Times-Union
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New footage released after violent traffic stop in Florida goes viral
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