TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — A federal lawsuit filed on Wednesday claims that law enforcement officers in Jacksonville violated the civil rights of 22-year-old Black college student William McNeil during a traffic stop. The incident, which occurred in February, involved McNeil being forcibly pulled from his car and beaten by Officer D. Bowers of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. A video of the encounter went viral this summer, resulting in widespread public outrage.
In August, prosecutors announced that they would not bring charges against Officer Bowers, asserting that the officer's actions did not constitute a crime, according to a report from the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida. This determination has drawn criticism from McNeil's legal team. Renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing McNeil alongside Harry Daniels, argued that the policies of the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office foster an environment where officers can engage in racial profiling and exert illegal or excessive force without facing repercussions.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters has defended the actions of his officers, suggesting that the viral video does not fully represent the incident. He indicated that McNeil was asked multiple times to exit his vehicle, adding a layer of complexity to the situation. Waters, who is also Black, emphasized that more context is needed beyond the cellphone footage.
The lawsuit names not only Sheriff Waters and Officer Bowers but also another officer identified as D. Miller, the City of Jacksonville, and Duval County government as defendants. According to the prosecutors’ report, Officer Bowers stopped McNeil for failing to turn on his headlights and to buckle his seatbelt, as his SUV was parked outside a house under surveillance for suspected drug activity.
McNeil questioned the legality of the stop and requested a supervisor to respond. Prosecutors reviewed body camera footage, conducted interviews with officers, and took statements from McNeil, concluding that Bowers had issued a dozen “lawful commands” that McNeil did not comply with. However, Crump argued that McNeil remained calm throughout the encounter while the officers—who are trained to de-escalate confrontational situations—chose to escalate the violence instead. He noted that the case reminded him of the Civil Rights movement era, during which Black individuals faced violence when asserting their rights.
In light of the incident, McNeil's attorneys have formally requested the Department of Justice to conduct an investigation into what they describe as excessive force and systemic failures by Jacksonville officials. The call for federal oversight highlights the broader issues surrounding police conduct and accountability, particularly in cases involving minority communities.
As the legal battle unfolds, the implications of this lawsuit may have lasting effects on law enforcement practices in Jacksonville and potentially across the nation as communities continue to grapple with issues of police brutality and civil rights. The ongoing dialogue surrounding this case underscores the need for transparency and accountability within policing systems nationwide.
