Cellphone Video Exposes Police Brutality Against Black Motorist in Florida

On February 19, 2025, a shocking incident of police brutality against a Black college student in Florida came to light. William McNeil Jr. was pulled over by officers, who claimed his headlights should have been on due to bad weather. McNeil's cellphone video, which he had mounted above his dashboard, captured the violent encounter that followed.

The footage shows an officer smashing McNeil's car window and striking him while he was still in the driver's seat. The officer then pulled McNeil from the car and punched him in the head, knocking him to the ground. According to the police report, McNeil was punched six more times in the right thigh.

The incident reports, however, did not describe the officer punching McNeil in the head, stating only that "physical force was applied to the suspect and he was taken to the ground." It was McNeil's video that exposed the true extent of the officers' brutality.

After the video went viral last month, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office launched an internal investigation, which is still ongoing. McNeil's lawyers have accused the department of trying to cover up the incident and have called the traffic stop "racially motivated" and "unlawful."

The case has highlighted the importance of citizens recording their interactions with law enforcement. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is advising McNeil, said "all the young people should be recording these interactions with law enforcement" to ensure the truth is documented. The incident serves as a reminder that cellphone video can provide a different perspective than official police reports.