Sheriff’s Office Launches Investigation as Officer’s Actions Spark Outrage Over Excessive Force

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer, identified as D. Bowers, has been stripped of his law enforcement authority following a viral video that captured him smashing a car window and punching 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. in the face during a February 19, 2025, traffic stop. The incident, which surfaced on social media over the weekend, has ignited widespread outrage and prompted an internal investigation by the JSO.

The video, recorded by McNeil’s cellphone and posted on Instagram, shows the young Black man questioning officers about the reason for the stop—cited as driving without headlights in daylight. McNeil, wearing his seatbelt and appearing calm, asked to speak with a supervisor and requested the specific law requiring headlights. In response, Officer Bowers is seen shattering the driver’s side window, punching McNeil in the face, and forcibly removing him from the vehicle. Multiple officers then restrained McNeil, with Bowers striking him again as he was taken to the ground.

Sheriff T.K. Waters addressed the incident in a Monday press conference, stating that the State Attorney’s Office found no criminal wrongdoing by the officers involved. However, Bowers has been stripped of his duties pending an internal review to determine if he violated JSO policy. “I will neither defend nor commend Officer Bowers’ response until all the facts are known,” Waters said, emphasizing that while “force is ugly,” it is not necessarily unlawful. He noted that body camera footage, which did not capture the initial punch, showed McNeil closing his car door and refusing to exit, and officers later found a large unsheathed knife on the driver’s side floorboard.

The arrest report claims McNeil was “verbally combative” and reached for the knife, though the viral video shows him with his hands visible and raised before being struck. McNeil sustained significant injuries, including a chipped tooth, a lacerated chin requiring stitches, a concussion, and short-term memory issues, according to his attorney, Harry Daniels.

McNeil, who was charged with resisting an officer without violence and driving with a suspended license, was found guilty of both but served only two days in jail. Charges related to drug possession and traffic violations were dismissed. He has since retained prominent civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and Ben Crump, who condemned the officers’ actions as “needless violence and brutality.” Crump stated, “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.” The attorneys plan to pursue legal action to seek justice for McNeil.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism from local leaders, including State Senator Shevrin Jones and Representative Angie Nixon, who called it a “sickening reminder” of systemic issues in law enforcement. “The driver was baselessly stopped for not using headlights during broad daylight,” Jones said, highlighting concerns about racial bias and excessive force. The JSO has faced similar scrutiny in recent years, including a 2023 case involving the violent arrest of Le’Keian Woods and the 2019 killing of Jamee Johnson, which resulted in a $200,000 settlement.

Sheriff Waters defended the need for context, noting that the viral video lacked footage of earlier interactions and that McNeil did not file a complaint until the video gained traction months later. “When incomplete cellphone footage becomes the basis for public opinion, the results can be faulty,” he said. The JSO released body camera footage to provide additional perspective, though it did not capture the moment of the initial punch.

As the investigation continues, the incident has reignited debates about police conduct and accountability in Jacksonville. McNeil’s legal team and community leaders are demanding transparency and full release of all related footage to ensure justice. The outcome of the JSO’s internal review will likely shape potential litigation and public trust in the department.