William McNeil Jr: Florida police release body cam footage from viral clip of officer attacking driver
Footage of a traffic stop in the US showing a police officer punch an unarmed driver before removing him from his car has sparked global outrage.
Officers pulled over William McNeil Jr on February 19 for driving without his headlights switched on and not wearing a seatbelt.
When officers asked him to exit the car, the 22-year-old refused, claiming there was no need for his headlights to be switched on.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“It’s daylight, I don’t need the lights. And it’s not weather – it’s not raining,” Mr McNeil said in the video.
In a clip that has since gone viral, authorities then smashed the driver’s seat window, and proceeded to punch the young man before dragging Mr McNeil from his car, punching him again and throwing him to the ground.
Footage of the arrest sparked outrage online, prompting Jacksonville Police to release body camera footage of the incident with the sheriff claiming the viral video “does not comprehensively capture the circumstances surrounding the incident”.
“Just because force is ugly does not mean it’s unlawful or contrary to policy,” the sheriff said in a statement.
The body-worn vision shows the officers had repeatedly asked McNeil to get out of his car before forcefully removing him.
In the arrest report, police stated Mr McNeil was reaching for the floor of his car where a knife had been stashed. The report also failed to mention any force being used by the arresting officers.
While a separate report claimed officers delivered “six closed fist strikes” to Mr McNeil.
Lawyers Ben Crump and Harry Daniels have disputed the police report, saying that “he never reaches for anything” and the thought that he was going for a knife was a “fabrication”.
The 22-year-old has spoken out in recent days, revealing he now suffers from PTSD as a result of the arrest.
“I don’t drive anymore,” Mr McNeil told ABC News.
“Just because I don’t trust cops, anymore. I’m still scared. I can’t get sleep at night because of trauma. I have flashbacks and nightmares.”
When asked why he didn’t get out of the car, Mr McNeil said “I feared for my life”.
“I was scared, frightened. I grew up being told that officers protect us, but that wasn’t the case.”
The State Attorney’s Office has deemed that no criminal laws have been violated, although an “administrative review” into the officers is still ongoing.
