A video capturing the violent arrest of William McNeil Jr., a Black college student, during a February traffic stop in Florida has sparked an investigation and renewed calls for motorists to protect themselves by installing cameras inside their vehicles.
McNeil’s cellphone camera, mounted above his dashboard, recorded the traffic stop, showing officers smashing his window, pulling him from the car, and punching him in the head. The footage provided a rare, clear view of the violence that was not fully captured by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office body cameras.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, representing McNeil, emphasized the importance of recording such encounters. “What driving while Black is like in America can be seen firsthand,” he said, urging young people to document interactions with law enforcement to prevent false police narratives, as seen in past cases like George Floyd.
Officers stopped McNeil for allegedly driving without headlights during bad weather. McNeil’s video shows him calmly questioning the officers before the violence erupted. The official police report described the use of force vaguely and omitted mention of punches to the head that are visible in the video.
Following the video’s viral release, the sheriff’s office launched an internal investigation, though it has declined public comment due to pending litigation. McNeil suffered serious injuries, including a brain injury, a broken tooth, and stitches.
Experts like former NYPD lieutenant Christopher Mercado and University of Maryland criminology chair Rod Brunson recommend motorists use in-car cameras for protection and accountability, noting that police body cameras often have limited views, especially in close confrontations.
Sheriff T.K. Waters acknowledged the ongoing investigation and noted that officers had repeatedly ordered McNeil to exit the vehicle. Waters also highlighted the discovery of a knife in McNeil’s car, though McNeil’s video disputes claims that he reached for it.
This incident underscores the power of video to reveal the truth behind police encounters, particularly for Black Americans facing disproportionate scrutiny and violence. As Brunson explains, video evidence helps society recognize and confront abuses of police power that might otherwise be dismissed or denied.
