Black Student Files Federal Civil Rights Lawsuit Against Jacksonville Sheriff's Office

William McNeil, a 22-year-old Black college student, has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, alleging excessive force, racial profiling, and unconstitutional policies after officers violently pulled him from his car and beat him during a February traffic stop. The incident, captured on video and widely circulated, shows McNeil being punched, dragged from his vehicle, and suffering serious injuries including a traumatic brain injury and fractured tooth. Despite the viral video and public outrage, prosecutors declined to file charges against the officers, concluding their actions did not constitute a crime, citing McNeil's refusal to comply with commands as justification. Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels argue the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office allows systemic brutality and racial profiling without accountability, with the lawsuit also seeking policy reforms and calling for a Department of Justice civil rights investigation. Sheriff T.K. Waters defended the officers, stating the video does not fully capture the situation and that McNeil was repeatedly asked to exit the vehicle. The case highlights ongoing tensions over police conduct and efforts to change the culture of policing in Jacksonville.