Latest news with #StateAttorney'sOffice
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Florida Gators cornerback sees charges dropped
Florida defensive back Dijon Johnson saw all charges related to a May 2 traffic stop dropped against him, according to The Independent Florida Alligator, which confirmed the story with the State Attorney's Office. Johnson was arrested after being pulled over for running a stop sign. He faced felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Officers also tacked on a misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence charge after Johnson failed to exit the vehicle as commanded. "We have worked closely with prosecutors on this for the past few months and are pleased with their diligence and professionalism," Johnson's attorney, Tim Taylor, said. "Dijon and his family are happy to have this matter behind them. Dijon is focused on his academic and football commitments and is excited for the start of the football season." It's a timely decision for both Florida and Johnson with spring training camp starting on Wednesday. With the cloud hanging over his head now gone, Johnson can go into the preseason with a clear mind. He's expected to be a major contributor in Florida's secondary after stepping into a starting role in the second half of last season. Johnson made his first start against Georgia on Nov. 2, and he was a starter for the big four-game run Florida put together to finish off the 2024 campaign. Pro Football Focus gave him a 67.4 overall defense score last season, ranking fifth among Florida's secondary. Johnson's 550 snaps played were the most of any cornerback on the roster last year. He recorded 25 tackles (16 solo), one tackle for a loss and two pass break-ups. As a freshman, he played in all 12 games but primarily in a special teams role. He finished 2023 with two tackles and one fumble recovery. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions. This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida football CB Dijon Johnson charges by dropped State Attorney


USA Today
19 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Florida Gators cornerback sees charges dropped
Florida defensive back Dijon Johnson saw all charges related to a May 2 traffic stop dropped against him, according to The Independent Florida Alligator, which confirmed the story with the State Attorney's Office. Johnson was arrested after being pulled over for running a stop sign. He faced felony charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. Officers also tacked on a misdemeanor resisting an officer without violence charge after Johnson failed to exit the vehicle as commanded. "We have worked closely with prosecutors on this for the past few months and are pleased with their diligence and professionalism," Johnson's attorney, Tim Taylor, said. "Dijon and his family are happy to have this matter behind them. Dijon is focused on his academic and football commitments and is excited for the start of the football season." It's a timely decision for both Florida and Johnson with spring training camp starting on Wednesday. With the cloud hanging over his head now gone, Johnson can go into the preseason with a clear mind. He's expected to be a major contributor in Florida's secondary after stepping into a starting role in the second half of last season. Johnson made his first start against Georgia on Nov. 2, and he was a starter for the big four-game run Florida put together to finish off the 2024 campaign. Pro Football Focus gave him a 67.4 overall defense score last season, ranking fifth among Florida's secondary. Johnson's 550 snaps played were the most of any cornerback on the roster last year. He recorded 25 tackles (16 solo), one tackle for a loss and two pass break-ups. As a freshman, he played in all 12 games but primarily in a special teams role. He finished 2023 with two tackles and one fumble recovery. Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.


The Irish Sun
5 days ago
- The Irish Sun
Three Brit tourists arrested in Croatia for ‘raping local woman in planned attack' facing up to 10 years behind bars
THREE British tourists have been arrested in Croatia on suspicion of raping a 28-year-old woman. The men face up to ten years in prison with cops fearing the alleged hotel attack may have been planned out. Advertisement 3 Three British tourists have been arrested in Split, Croatia, on suspicion of raping a local woman Credit: Getty 3 The men face up to ten years in prison with cops fearing the alleged hotel attack may have been planned out Credit: EPA Police in the Adriatic port of Split have accused the Brits of raping the local A report was filed to cops shortly after 7am on Thursday. A criminal investigation was launched as one of the suspects was swiftly detained at the scene. The two others were found at a seperate location shortly after. Advertisement read more in Croatia Police now believe the men could have planned out the alleged rape after they were interrogated by the State Attorney's Office. They risk spending between six months or up to 10 years behind bars, according to Croatian laws. If they are found guilty of premeditating the alleged attack, the trio could face the maximum punishment. The men have been ordered to spend one month in custody as investigations continue. Advertisement Most read in The Sun It has been revealed that two out of three of the detained Brits have the roots in Kosovo. It follows travel guidance sent out to Brits in 2023 which warned about The British Foreign Office issued the alert following the rape of a 23-year-old woman and reports of other sex attacks in the city. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office warned: 'There have been reports of sexual assaults in taxis or Ubers in Croatia. Advertisement "To reduce risk and help prevent potential assaults you can: Take a photo of the inside, where the number of the taxi is visible, and send to a friend or someone else Share your ride status on the Uber app." 3 Brits were warned about rapist taxi drivers in Croatia in 2023 Credit: Getty

Mint
6 days ago
- Mint
Florida officer who broke car window, punched 22-year-old black man suspended: ‘Disturbing reminder of racial violence'
'Disturbing reminder of racial violence': The Florida cop who broke the car window and punched a 22-year-old black man in the face during a traffic stop in a viral video has been suspended. However, the sheriff's office said that a state prosecutor had found no misconduct by the officers, but an internal review is underway. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the 22-year-old man, William McNeil Jr, said the incident was "a disturbing reminder" of historical racial violence by police against black Americans. In the viral Instagram video posted by McNeil, the police officer can be seen smashing the window of his car. The officers then punched him in the face, pulled him out of the car and pinned him to the ground. McNeil said his tooth was chipped and he required stitches to his mouth after the arrest, and suffered a concussion. 'This was very hard to do. I'm not mentally healed from this, but I had to get the word out eventually,' he wrote in the caption. Soon after, another clip, a police bodycam footage, began circulating online. In this video, McNeil can be seen refusing the officer's demands to exit the vehicle after being told he has been pulled over for traffic violations. The incident is reportedly from 19 February 2025 in Jacksonville. In a news conference on Monday, Jacksonville Sheriff TK Waters said that one of the officers involved in the incident, D Bowers, had been stripped of law-enforcement duties until a review determines whether he violated any of the sheriff's office policies was completed. However, he added, 'State Attorney's Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law, even though the administrative review has yet to be completed.' Sheriff Waters also noted that a person is obligated to comply with an officer's commands, 'even if that person disagrees with that officer's reasons for the stop.' In the viral video, the officer can be seen telling McNeil that he has been pulled over for not wearing his seatbelt or having his headlights on in inclement weather, to which the 22-year-old calmly replied, 'It's daylight, I don't need the lights.' But McNeil refused to leave the vehicle and asked to speak to the officer's supervisor before locking the doors. After warning him to get out of the car for about three minutes, the officer told his colleague he was going to break the window. Another officer responded, 'All right, go for it.' In his arrest report, the policeman wrote that he called for backup after McNeil refused requests to show his driver's license, registration and proof of insurance. 'The suspect was reaching for the floor board of the vehicle where a large knife was sitting,' Officer Bowers wrote. However, in the viral video, McNeil's hands are up and visible as police unlock his seatbelt to drag him from the car. It is unclear if his seatbelt was fastened at the time police pulled him over. William McNeil Jr had pleaded guilty to resisting a police officer without violence and driving on a suspended driver's licence. He was sentenced to two days in jail.


Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Student who suffered horror injuries after being punched by police speaks out on ordeal
William McNeil Jr, from Jacksonville, Florida, was punched and dragged from his car by police during a traffic stop - a violent arrest which sparked nationwide outrage A student who was punched and dragged from his car by police during a traffic stop suffered concussion and a broken tooth which pierced his lip, it has emerged. William McNeil Jr, 22, yesterday spoke publicly of the ordeal the first time following the violent arrest, which sparked outrage across the US. His family's lawyers believe race may have played a part in the way Mr McNeil, a biology student at university, was treated. "That day I just really wanted to know why I was getting pulled over and why I needed to step out of the car. I knew I didn't do nothing wrong. I was really just scared," Mr McNeil said during a press conference in Jacksonville, Florida. Police's internal investigation continues but a separate probe by the State Attorney's Office cleared the officers of any criminal wrongdoing, a finding fiercely criticiced by Mr McNeil's lawyers. Footage shows from the student's car-mounted camera shows him sitting in the driver's seat, asking to speak to the Jacksonville officers' supervisor, when they broke his window, punched him in the face, pulled him from the vehicle and punched him again. He was then knocked to the ground by an officer, who delivered six closed-fist punches to the hamstring of his right thigh, police reports show. Speaking at the press briefing yesterday, civil rights lawyer Ben Crump said his client had every right to ask why he was being pulled over and to ask for a supervisor. Addressing the public, he added: "America, we're better than this, we're at a crossroads... We are a Democracy, we believe in the Constitution. We are not a police state where the police can do anything they want to citizens without any accountability. "What he (Mr McNeil) exhibited was a 21st century Rosa Parks moment where an African American had the audacity to say 'I deserve equal justice under the law. I deserve to be treated like a human being with all the respect that a human being is entitled to.'" But Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis yesterday defended law enforcement officers and implied the video was merely posted on social media to advance a "narrative" and generate attention. "That's what happens in so many of these things," Mr DeSantis said. "There's a rush to judgment. There's a, there's a desire to try to get views and clicks by creating division.' Mr DeSantis said he hasn't reviewed the viral video but has "every confidence" in Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters, who has urged the public not to cast judgement based on the footage alone. Mr DeSantis continued: "If people get out of line, he's going to hold them accountable."