David Bridges
A recent viral video featuring the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has ignited a significant discussion surrounding police brutality on various social media platforms. The video was first shared by William ‘Will’ McNeil Jr. on his Instagram account on July 20, and it has since garnered over 104,000 likes and more than 20,000 comments. In his post, McNeil detailed the severe injuries he sustained after a routine traffic stop escalated into a tumultuous encounter involving at least three law enforcement officers. The latest updates indicate that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has officially responded to this highly publicized and distressing incident.
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Disturbing Viral Footage Captures Excessive Force Used Against Will McNeil Jr.
Social media users are actively commenting on the apparent excessive force exhibited by officers from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office. This incident reportedly occurred earlier this year, and the footage begins with the 22-year-old McNeil conversing with an off-camera officer, who appears to stand near his passenger window. The officer intermittently responds with affirmations like “yeah” as McNeil attempts to articulate his confusion regarding the basis for the traffic stop. He mentions that the officer informed him the stop was due to his headlights being off, despite the absence of adverse weather conditions. Ultimately, the officer firmly states, “It doesn’t matter,” insisting that McNeil was still obligated to have his headlights on. The officer then instructs him to exit the vehicle, promising to clarify the laws related to headlights afterward. In response, McNeil insists on speaking to a supervisor twice.
As the video unfolds, another officer, described as a Caucasian male wearing black-framed glasses, can be seen positioned by the driver’s side window. When McNeil requests a supervisor for the second time, the officer at the passenger window seemingly instructs the officer by the driver’s side, “Alright go for it.” At that moment, the officer smashed McNeil’s car window and struck him in the face while commanding, “Exit the vehicle now.”
Following this, an additional officer from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office approached the driver’s side. McNeil promptly raised his hands in compliance when requested, but the officers proceeded to forcefully open his car door, drag him out, and tackle him onto the ground, which was littered with broken glass. Throughout this encounter, McNeil exhibited no resistance while seated in his vehicle, only expressing distress by shouting “no” as officers attempted to subdue him outside. The officers can be heard making statements such as, “F*ck’s wrong with you,” “Ain’t no talking now,” “You’re under arrest, that’s what’s going on.” In contrast, McNeil repeatedly asserts his innocence, insisting he was merely trying to engage in a conversation.
Editor’s Note: The video below may contain sensitive or triggering material.
Will McNeil Jr. Shares Details of His Injuries Sustained During Arrest
In his caption, Will McNeil Jr. disclosed that the incident transpired on February 19 around 4 p.m., during which he was pulled over for having his headlights off, despite the absence of any adverse weather conditions. He recalls being able to see the “blue sky” prior to discussing his injuries in detail.
“I simply asked for a supervisor and things escalated quickly as you can see. A chipped tooth and over 9 stitches in my lips (my tooth went through my lip) were the results of them slamming me on the ground for no reason while I was attempting to put my hands behind my back,” Will McNeil Jr. revealed.
McNeil further elaborated that he also suffered a concussion and experienced short-term memory loss following the incident. He expressed that sharing this footage was an extremely difficult decision for him, noting that he has not yet fully “mentally healed” from the traumatic encounter, which has had a detrimental impact on his personal relationships.
“…I had to get the word out eventually and if I pushed you away or changed, more than likely, this is why or I just dfwy,” William wrote on Instagram.
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Responds to Allegations of Excessive Force During Traffic Stop
Following the viral spread of Will McNeil Jr.’s video, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office issued a response on social media, particularly on X. The agency acknowledged the viral footage but provided only a generic statement without identifying the officers involved in the incident or confirming their current employment status. Furthermore, they did not clarify whether the degree of force used by the officers was excessive. Currently, it appears that an “internal investigation” is underway.
“We have launched an internal investigation into it and the circumstances surrounding this incident. We hold our officers to the highest standards and are committed to thoroughly determining exactly what occurred,” the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office shared.
According to News4JAX, McNeil’s new legal representatives are civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Ben Crump. Attorney Daniels stated in a press release that the behavior exhibited by the JSO officers is not an isolated incident but rather indicative of a persistent pattern of excessive force.
“This is only the latest in a long line of excessive force incidents involving the JSO,” attorney Daniels stated. “In September 2023, the department was the focus of a national outcry after a video of JSO officers violently beating 24-year-old Le’Keian Woods while he was unarmed went viral. In 2019, JSO officers faced a federal lawsuit for the fatal shooting of 22-year-old Jamee Johnson after pulling him over for an alleged seat belt violation.”
Crump emphasized that their client was unjustly targeted for exercising his rights. In his statement, he remarked, “It should be obvious to anyone watching this video that William McNeil wasn’t a threat to anyone. He was calmly exercising his constitutional rights, and they beat him for it.”
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