William McNeil Jr., the individual featured in a viral video depicting a violent incident during a traffic stop by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, has enlisted the services of prominent civil rights lawyers Harry Daniels and Ben Crump for legal representation.
The video below captures a traffic stop on Feb. 19 this year where JSO officers broke McNeil Jr.’s driver’s side window, struck his face, and pulled him out of his SUV after he requested to talk to a supervisor.
Officers pulled over McNeil for driving without headlights. McNeil disputed the stop, citing the lack of rain and daylight.
In the video, a police officer can be heard stating, You’re still obligated to have headlights on, regardless of visibility.
An officer instructs McNeil to exit the vehicle. When McNeil requests to speak with the officer’s supervisor, a second officer smashes the driver’s window with punches. McNeil is then struck in the head by the first officer, who proceeds to unlock the vehicle door, release the seatbelt, and extract him forcefully from the driver’s seat.
After exiting the vehicle, several officers converge around McNeil. A particular officer grabs McNeil’s head, delivers a punch to his chin, and subsequently pushes him to the ground.
The video, shared online early Sunday, has accumulated hundreds of thousands of views.
Daniels wrote in a news release on Sunday that this incident is βonly the latest in a long line of excessive force incidents involving the JSO.β
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We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025. We have launched an internal investigation into it and theβ¦ pic.twitter.com/P5xiZl9HyIβ Jax Sheriff’s Office (@JSOPIO) July 20, 2025
Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels mentioned that 22-year-old William McNeil sought their legal representation following a video that gained widespread attention from a traffic stop earlier in February.
The attorneys emphasized the importance of addressing systemic issues within law enforcement that the incident highlighted.
They expressed their commitment to advocating for justice and accountability in cases involving alleged police misconduct.
Additionally, Crump and Daniels stated that they will work diligently to ensure that McNeil’s rights are protected throughout the legal process. Furthermore, they affirmed their dedication to seeking fair outcomes for their client and promoting transparency in law enforcement interactions.
UPDATE: JSO releases bodycam video of viral February traffic stop