William McNeil Jr. didn’t die. That’s why they think they can get away with it.
In a world where law enforcement’s “truth” is filtered through disingenuous PR statements and bodycams are more about liability than justice, Jacksonville Law Enforcement just gave us the blueprint for how to brutalize someone on camera and still dodge criminal charges.
Today, I saw a video on LinkedIn from my friend and fellow advocate AJ Ali, that absolutely shocks the conscience (go check out AJ’s work and give him a follow!).
The case of William McNeil Jr. should’ve been a no-brainer. A man is calmly asking for a supervisor during a traffic stop.
Within seconds, his window is smashed, his face is punched, his head yanked out the car. The cell phone video went viral for good reason. It’s disturbing, unambiguous, and exactly the kind of footage that has sparked national protests before.
And the verdict according to Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department?
Let that sink in.
What the Video Shows
- McNeil wasn’t aggressive. He asked a question: “Why am I being pulled over?”
- The deputy’s response? Smash, grab, punch.
- The injuries? A chipped tooth. A split lip. A concussion. Memory loss.
- The justification? Seemingly, driving while black. The Deputies claimed he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt. They claimed he had no headlights. McNeil says that’s false—his lights were automatic and his belt was on.
The entire escalation came not from danger but from discomfort. A Black man in Florida dared to ask a question. He dared to request oversight. And that was too much.
At the end of the video, one of the deputies has the nerve to scream, “The f*ck is wrong with you?!”
Uh no. The REAL question is, the f*ck is wrong with policing in America and how do any of you have a job?
The body cam footage further demonstrates the Deputies’ unprofessional and despicable behavior.
Florida AG Excuses Police Brutality and Excessive Force
State Attorney Melissa Nelson’s office claimed there was no legal basis to charge the officers involved. That would be laughable if it wasn’t so absurd. One deputy, Donald Bowers, has been pulled from patrol, but only for an “administrative review.” Not for brutality. Not for violence. Not even for being a walking civil rights lawsuit.
They claim one thing and their actions speak another; they are only saying this because even they know they have one hell of a lawsuit on their hands.
Because to any reasonable person, breaking a man’s window, punching him in the head, and dragging him out of a car is most definitely a crime.
But apparently, if you wear a badge, you can throw fists and call it policy.
The ruling that there was “no criminal activity” is more than tone-deaf, it’s dangerous. It signals to the public what many of us already know; there is no accountability in the system. Video evidence doesn’t matter unless someone dies, and even then. It tells every deputy, every cop, every wannabe punisher can get away with it, as long as the victim survives.
This Isn’t Just About Jacksonville
This is about every traffic stop where the badge turns into a weapon. It’s about every local prosecutor who forgets that they work for the people; not the police union. And it’s about every time we’re told to calm down, wait for the facts, and trust the system that never seems to hold itself accountable.
William McNeil Jr. didn’t die. But that shouldn’t be the only reason this story ends here.
What Now?
If you’re mad, good. Here’s what you can do:
- Write to the State Attorney’s Office with one question: How is this not a crime other than you are really just trying to save your own skin?
- Contact Jacksonville Sheriff’s Department and demand these individuals be fired.
- Support journalists and watchdogs who capture these injustices and get the truth out.
Because without that video, this would’ve been just another “suspect resisted.”
