Jacksonville mayor says viral police punch video 'disturbing' as probe moves forward

The mayor of a Florida city where a viral video was recorded showing an officer punching a male driver in the face during a traffic stop has described the event as disturbing and called on due process to run its lesson Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan mentioned she understands the public's frustration and emphasized she is taking a pragmatic approach to it I understand the angst Deegan explained local news outlet News Jax I understand the upset I get all of that But at the end of the day let s wait and see where it all goes Hopefully there s a good resolution VIOLENT ASSAULT ON OFF-DUTY NYPD ROOKIE UNCOVERS TENSIONS WITH POLICE SAFETY AND FORCE PROTOCOLSThe video which was taken in February began circulating on social media last week and shows William McNeil Jr staring at the camera as an officer is seen smashing his driver s side window and demanding that he get out Exit the bicycle now the officer says The officer then strikes McNeil in the face before he is dragged out of the car and taken into custody The viral footage began with McNeil talking to an officer about why he was pulled over recounting how an officer communicated him his headlights were off during apparent inclement weather In the bodycam footage distributed by the Jacksonville Sheriff s Office McNeil is seen refusing to hand over his license registration and proof of insurance McNeil remains in the motorcycle and the window was eventually smashed Officers stated they unveiled a large unsheathed serrated knife on the driver's side floorboard of McNeil s car Deegan reported that particular people have expressed frustration that she hasn t expressed more outrage DOJ CITES BODYCAM FOOTAGE IN CHARGING DOCUMENT FOR HOUSE DEM MCIVER I am a very pragmatic thinker when it comes to how these things go and it s not to diminish whatever happened there I m solely saying there has to be an investigative process Deegan stated I have faith that that process will be carried out and we ll see where it goes But I can t really say much beyond that because there is a lawsuit that may happen Deegan reminded viewers that Jacksonville has a consolidated leadership meaning she and the sheriff Sheriff T K Waters are independently elected and have separate responsibilities It is my job to run the city It is his job to run the police department She credited Waters for releasing the bodycam video and attempting to be transparent though she stopped short of making judgments He shows the video He shows the bodycam videos However you feel about this I think that the sheriff has come out and tried to be as transparent as he can with the process Deegan revealed I think that I would just ask people to be a little case Waters commented Monday while releasing a longer bodycam video of the case that he had instructed his agency to at once began both a criminal and administrative review of the officers actions These administrative reviews are ongoing but the state attorney's office has determined that none of the involved officers violated criminal law Waters noted Attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels released they are now representing McNeil after the video sparked outrage across the country They announced there was a racial component to the case given that McNeil is a Black man and the officers are white What happened to William McNeil Jr is a disturbing reminder that even the greater part basic rights like asking why you ve been pulled over can be met with violence for Black Americans they disclosed in a comment William was calm and compliant Yet instead of answers he got his window smashed and was punched in the face all over a questionable claim about headlights in broad daylight This wasn t law enforcement it was brutality All video from JSO should be circulated to ensure there is transparency for McNeil and the society We demand full accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff s Office and justice for William McNeil Jr