Florida Officer Accused of Falsifying Report to Justify Assaulting Black Man in Viral Incident

A Florida sheriff's department has initiated an internal investigation following the emergence of a viral video that captures officers breaking a car window, striking a driver, and forcibly extracting him during a February traffic stop for allegedly driving without headlights. The February 19, 2025 encounter involved deputies from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. The involved officer has been temporarily relieved of his duties as the inquiry unfolds.Social media outrage erupted after the footage revealed McNeil sustaining a chipped tooth and nine stitches in his lip. McNeil has now enlisted the help of distinguished civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, who assert the brutalities exemplify a pattern of excessive force by the department.Crump stated, “This should never have happened,” highlighting that McNeil posed no threat but was merely asserting his constitutional rights. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office committed to a thorough examination of the incident, affirming their dedication to high standards within their ranks. (Photo: Video screenshot)