Latest news with #McNeil
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
US Cop Drags & Bashes Black Man In Viral Assault Video; Officer Stripped Of Duty Amid Outrage
A Florida police officer was stripped of duty after a viral video showed him punching 22-year-old William McNeil Jr., a Black man, during a February traffic stop. McNeil, seated and calm, asked for a sergeant after being pulled over for not using headlights in daylight. Without warning, another officer smashed his window and punched him in the face. The incident, now under internal investigation, has reignited debate on racial profiling and police brutality in the U.S.
Global News
6 hours ago
- Global News
Florida police officer seen punching, dragging man during traffic stop in video
A video showing Florida deputies punching and dragging a Black man from his car during a traffic stop has sparked outrage. William McNeil Jr., 22, was sitting in the driver's seat of his car, asking to speak to the Jacksonville deputies' supervisor when authorities broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, punched him again and threw him to the ground. The footage is from a Feb. 19 arrest, but it began making the rounds on social media this week after the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said it had launched an internal probe into the incident. 'We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025. We have launched an internal investigation into it and the circumstances surrounding this incident,' the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Story continues below advertisement 'We hold our officers to the highest standards and are committed to thoroughly determining exactly what occurred.' 𝐀 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐉𝐀𝐂𝐊𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐅𝐅'𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄 We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025. We have launched an internal investigation into it and the… — Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) July 20, 2025 The video was released on July 20 by McNeil's lawyers, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The footage from the arrest shows that seconds before being dragged outside, McNeil had his hands up and did not appear to be resisting as he asked, 'What is your reason?' He had been pulled over and accused of not having his headlights on, even though it was daytime, his lawyers said. 'What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you've been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans,' Crump and Daniels said in a statement. Crump is a Black civil rights lawyer who has gained national prominence representing victims of police brutality and vigilante violence. Story continues below advertisement 'William was calm and compliant,' they said. 'Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight.' During a news briefing on Monday, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Waters said cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard.' 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it,' he added. McNeil was charged with resisting a police officer without violence, driving with a suspended licence and having less than 20 grams of marijuana, Waters said. McNeil pleaded guilty to the charges of resisting an officer and driving with a suspended licence. The sheriff claimed that McNeil was warned seven times that he needed to open his car door and get out or officers would be forced to break his car window. He said that after McNeil was removed from the car, officers found a 'large, serrated knife' on the driver's side floor of the car. Story continues below advertisement Waters added that the sheriff's office became aware that the cellphone video was circulating on social media on July 20. At the news briefing, Waters said the agency 'immediately began both a criminal and administrative review of the officers' actions.' 'The State Attorney's Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law,' he added. Waters noted that an 'administrative review' to determine whether officers violated any department policies is still ongoing. 'Due to the ongoing internal review, no further information will be released at this time, as it is confidential under Florida law,' Waters added. — With files from The Associated Press
Boston Globe
7 hours ago
- Boston Globe
Video shows Florida deputies punching and dragging a Black man from his car
'What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you've been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans,' lawyers Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Crump is a Black civil rights attorney who has gained national prominence representing victims of police brutality and vigilante violence Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'William was calm and compliant,' they said. 'Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight.' Advertisement Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Advertisement Cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard,' the sheriff added. 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it.' McNeil was charged with resisting a police officer without violence; driving with a suspended license and having less than 20 grams of marijuana, Waters said. He pleaded guilty to the charges of resisting an officer and driving with a suspended license, Waters said. McNeil was warned seven times that he needed to open his car door and get out, or officers would be forced to break his car window, the sheriff said. After McNeil was removed from the car, officers found a 'large, serrated knife' on the driver's side floor of the car, Waters said. Waters said the sheriff's office on Sunday became aware that the cellphone video was circulating on social media. Investigations then began, and the State Attorney's Office determined that no officers violated any criminal laws, he said at a news briefing. An 'administrative review' to determine whether officers violated any department policies is still ongoing, he said.
Winnipeg Free Press
8 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Video shows Florida deputies punching and dragging a Black man from his car
A video showing Florida deputies punching and dragging a Black man from his car during a traffic stop has sparked nationwide outrage, with civil rights lawyers accusing authorities of fabricating their arrest report. William McNeil Jr., 22, was sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville deputies' supervisor, when authorities broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle, punched him again and threw him to the ground. The footage from the Feb. 19 arrest shows that seconds before being dragged outside, McNeil had his hands up and did not appear to be resisting as he asked, 'What is your reason?' He had pulled over and accused of not having his headlights on, even though it was daytime, his lawyers said. FILE - Attorney Ben Crump speaks during a news conference, May 5, 2025, in Memphis, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, file) 'What happened to William McNeil Jr. is a disturbing reminder that even the most basic rights — like asking why you've been pulled over — can be met with violence for Black Americans,' lawyers Ben Crump and Harry Daniels said in a statement. Crump is a Black civil rights attorney who has gained national prominence representing victims of police brutality and vigilante violence 'William was calm and compliant,' they said. 'Yet instead of answers, he got his window smashed and was punched in the face, all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight.' Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the cellphone camera footage from inside the car 'does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident.' 'Part of that stems from the distance and perspective of the recording cell phone camera,' the sheriff said in a statement, adding that the video did not capture events that occurred before officers decided to arrest McNeil. Cameras 'can only capture what can be seen and heard,' the sheriff added. 'So much context and depth are absent from recorded footage because a camera simply cannot capture what is known to the people depicted in it.' McNeil was charged with resisting a police officer without violence; driving with a suspended license and having less than 20 grams of marijuana, Waters said. He pleaded guilty to the charges of resisting an officer and driving with a suspended license, Waters said. McNeil was warned seven times that he needed to open his car door and get out, or officers would be forced to break his car window, the sheriff said. After McNeil was removed from the car, officers found a 'large, serrated knife' on the driver's side floor of the car, Waters said. Waters said the sheriff's office on Sunday became aware that the cellphone video was circulating on social media. Investigations then began, and the State Attorney's Office determined that no officers violated any criminal laws, he said at a news briefing. An 'administrative review' to determine whether officers violated any department policies is still ongoing, he said.
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Time of India
Watch: US cops smash Black man's car window, punch him in face at traffic stop; video goes viral
A white Jacksonville police officer has been stripped of his duties after a video surfaced showing him punching a 22-year-old Black man during a February traffic stop in Florida. The footage, captured on William McNeil Jr.'s dashboard-mounted phone and widely circulated on social media, shows him calmly seated in his vehicle, requesting a sergeant after being stopped for allegedly driving without headlights during daylight. McNeil explains, 'It's daytime, it's not raining,' to which the officer replies, 'It doesn't matter, you're still required to have headlights on.' — CollinRugg (@CollinRugg) McNeil, wearing a seatbelt, continues to seek legal clarification and supervision. Moments later, another officer is seen smashing the driver's side window and punching McNeil in the face while yelling for him to exit the vehicle and show his hands. Additional footage shows McNeil being dragged out, struck again, and forced to the ground, sustaining a chin injury. 'What the f–— is wrong with you?' one officer is heard saying before announcing the arrest. Five officers were involved in the detention. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Ukraine: New Container Houses (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Undo At a press briefing Monday, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters confirmed the officer who punched McNeil- identified as Officer D. Bowers- has been 'stripped of his law enforcement duties, effective immediately.' Waters said Bowers voluntarily waived his privacy rights to allow the release of police body camera footage, though the punch itself was not captured on any of the three bodycams reviewed by investigators, according to NBC News. The stop took place on February 19. McNeil was charged with driving on a suspended license, resisting an officer without violence, and possession of a small amount of cannabis. He later pleaded guilty to the first two charges, according to the sheriff. Sheriff Waters defended the legality of the stop and the obligation to comply with police orders, stating, 'The law requires that a person comply with a police officer's command during a traffic stop. There are not options. Even if that person disagrees with that officer's reason for the stop.' However, he declined to defend Bowers' actions, noting, 'I will not commend nor defend Officer Bowers' response.' Despite the incident being recorded on McNeil's phone, Waters said the state attorney cleared all three officers involved, in part because none had seen the punch firsthand. Civil rights attorney Harry Daniels, representing McNeil, condemned the response: 'William felt like his rights were being trampled upon by being stopped during the day for not having headlights on. That's a new one. The officers could have easily dispatched a sergeant to the scene to de-escalate.' Jacksonville Sheriff's office has launched an internal investigation amid footage going viral and widespread backlash.
