Florida Sheriff’s officer in violent arrest of Black college student during traffic stop won’t face charges

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Deputy Officer D. Bowers, who forcibly arrested and struck a Black college student in the face during a traffic stop, will not face criminal charges.

Details: Prosecutors Will Not Charge Jacksonville Sheriff’s Deputy Accused of Punching Teen

The decision, announced Wednesday in a released memo by the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit, concluded that Bowers’ actions were legally justified. They stated it did not constitute criminal conduct.

Viral Video Sparks Outrage, But Prosecutors Cite “Incomplete Scope”

Footage of the incident, which shows officers punching and dragging 22-year-old William McNeil from his vehicle, ignited widespread condemnation across social media platforms. Meanwhile, prosecutors emphasized that the viral cellphone video lacked critical context. According to their investigative memo, body-worn camera footage and officer interviews revealed that McNeil repeatedly ignored lawful commands during the stop.

Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer’s traffic Stop Originated from Surveillance Operation

The report states that Officer Bowers initiated the stop after observing McNeil’s SUV parked outside a residence under surveillance for suspected “drug activity”. Bowers cited two traffic violations:

• failure to activate headlights
• not wearing a seatbelt, as the basis for pulling McNeil over.

During the encounter, McNeil allegedly refused to provide his license and registration. He kept his car door locked for several minutes despite earlier engaging with officers. Prosecutors said Bowers issued at least 12 lawful commands. They forcibly removed McNeil from the vehicle when he did not comply.

Prosecutors Defend Use of Force

“The State Attorney’s Office has reviewed this matter to determine whether any of Officer Bowers’ actions constitute a crime. We conclude they do not,” the memo reads. Officials stressed that the body camera footage provided essential context surrounding the arrest, including McNeil’s noncompliance and the officers’ attempts to deescalate.

Civil Rights Attorneys Condemn Decision, Call for Federal Probe

Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, who represent McNeil, sharply criticized the report. In a joint statement, they accused local authorities of attempting to retroactively justify excessive force.

“Frankly, we expected nothing less, especially after Sheriff Waters announced their conclusions more than three weeks before the report was issued,” the statement read. “Since they are unwilling to seek justice, we will have to request that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate this incident and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.”

Crump, a nationally recognized civil rights attorney, has previously likened McNeil’s treatment to historical abuses during the Civil Rights era, arguing that the officers escalated violence while McNeil remained calm and compliant.

In a press conference after the video was released, McNeil said he was just scared.

Cellphone footage shows McNeil asking to speak with a supervisor before officers smashed his window. They appeared to punch him in the face and then dragged him out of his vehicle.

McNeil, a biology major and marching band leader at Livingstone College in North Carolina, suffered:

• a concussion
• chipped tooth
• required nine stitches in his lip following the arrest.

What Comes Next

As McNeil’s attorneys call for federal oversight, the case continues to fuel debate over police accountability. Whether the Department of Justice will intervene remains to be seen, but McNeil’s legal team has vowed to pursue every avenue to seek justice.