A Jacksonville sheriff says deputies who pulled over 22-year-old Anthony McNeil Jr. during a traffic stop did not commit any crimes.
Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said McNeil’s own actions and refusal to comply caused police to react the way they did.
Sheriff Waters accused McNeil of trying to turn the public against law enforcement.
However, Waters conceded that one of the officers who punched McNeil is under administrative review by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
“Social media is not reality,” Waters said, after the video went viral. “One video clip devoid of context can be very misleading.”
Waters added that McNeil posted the cell phone footage online in an attempt to turn the public against police.
“One can only assume – and I’m saying I assume – that he intended to inflame the public,” Sheriff Waters said.
The incident occurred on Feb. 19, 2025 when police made a traffic stop after McNeil committed several traffic infractions.
The video shows three white police officers outside a car while McNeil sits in the car with the windows rolled up. One officer broke out McNeil’s car window, opened the car door and yanked him out of the car before punching McNeil in the face.
After McNeil’s cell phone video went viral online, Waters held a press conference and said that “the State Attorney’s Office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law.”
He noted that the deputies’ actions are under a JSO “administrative review,” which will determine if the deputies “violated JSO policy.” He also identified the deputy who broke the car window and punched McNeil as officer D. Bowers.
“Pending the outcome of this administrative review, Officer Bowers has been stripped of his law enforcement authority,” Waters said.
Sheriff Waters of Jacksonville says Anthony McNeil Jr a 22-year-old, caused police to react the way they did and accuses McNeil of trying to set the public against law enforcement ?
pic.twitter.com/DlyMdP1qWl— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) July 22, 2025
