Prosecutors Clear Florida Officer Who Punched Driver During Traffic Stop

A Florida police officer who punched and dragged a man from his car during a traffic stop will not face criminal charges, prosecutors announced.

Video taken by 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. showed Officer D. Bowers smashing his car window, striking him, and pulling him to the ground. The footage spread widely online in July.

In a 16-page report, the State Attorney’s Office for Florida’s Fourth Judicial Circuit concluded that Officer Bowers acted lawfully. Prosecutors said Bowers issued McNeil 12 commands during the stop, which McNeil repeatedly ignored.

Bodycam video released by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office showed McNeil refusing to leave his vehicle after being pulled over for not wearing a seatbelt and driving without headlights in bad weather. He locked his doors and demanded a supervisor. The officer warned several times that he would break the window before finally doing so.

Prosecutors said Bowers struck McNeil during the struggle to gain compliance. They also reported finding drug paraphernalia and a large serrated knife in the SUV.

McNeil pleaded guilty to resisting an officer and driving with a suspended license. He later shared his phone video on social media, saying he suffered a chipped tooth, stitches, and a concussion.

Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, who represent McNeil, condemned the decision and urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The department has removed Officer Bowers from law-enforcement duties while conducting an internal review.