Brutal Arrest of Black Student in Florida | Drudge Retort

Monday, August 04, 2025

Brutal Arrest of Black Student in Florida

Associated Press reports on a student who used his own camera to record his brutal arrest in Florida.

Posted by LampLighter at 07:32 PM | 41 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

More from the article ...

... William McNeil Jr. captured his February traffic stop on his cellphone camera, which was mounted above his dashboard. It offered a unique view, providing the only clear footage of the violence by officers, including punches to his head that can't clearly be seen in officer body camera footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office.

Since McNeil had the foresight to record the encounter from inside the vehicle, "we got to see firsthand and hear firsthand and put it all in context what driving while Black is in America," said civil rights attorney Ben Crump, one of several lawyers advising McNeil. ...

McNeil was pulled over that day because officers said his headlights should have been on due to bad weather, his lawyers said. His camera shows him asking the officers what he did wrong. Seconds later, an officer smashes his window, strikes him as he sat in the driver's seat and then pulls him from the car and punches him in the head. After being knocked to the ground, McNeil was punched six more times in his right thigh, a police report states.

The incident reports don't describe the officer punching McNeil in the head. The officer, who pulled McNeil over and then struck him, described the force this way in his report: "Physical force was applied to the suspect and he was taken to the ground."

But after McNeil posted his video online last month and it went viral, the sheriff's office launched an internal investigation, which is ongoing. A sheriff's office spokesperson declined to comment about the case this week, citing pending litigation, though no lawsuit has been filed over the arrest. ...

#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-03 06:52 PM

So we have to protect ourselves from the folks we pay to protect us.
Makes total sense.
Can't we just stop paying them?

#2 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-08-03 10:05 PM

@#2 ... So we have to protect ourselves from the folks we pay to protect us. ...

That seems to be the case, based upon this apparent assault.

#3 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-03 10:23 PM

"Can't we just stop paying them?"

You mean like "defund the police"?

There is a serious problem with police behaving like thugs that needs to be addressed, but I don't think that's the answer.

#4 | Posted by sentinel at 2025-08-04 01:48 PM

Money talks.

You disagree? Offer a solution.

#5 | Posted by YAV at 2025-08-04 01:58 PM

There was a federal database to monitor abusive federal law-enforcement officers, but this has probably been eliminated by the Trumpf junta, like PBS and NPR. An NGO maintains a nationwide database of police officer misconduct, but they can only record the names and incidents.

Links:

www.justice.gov

centerforjusticeresearch.org

#6 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-04 02:05 PM

So we have to protect ourselves from the folks we pay to protect us.
#2 | Posted by TFDNihilist

We don't pay them to protect us. We pay them to enforce laws. Remember Uvaldi Tx and the Supreme Court ruling that police generally have no constitutional duty to protect the public?

#7 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2025-08-05 12:18 AM

The police aren't here to protect you.

They're here to protect the wealthy and maintain the status quo.

#8 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 12:29 AM

Police are there to protect the moneyed elite from the rest of us. That's their true purpose.

#9 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-08-05 12:35 AM

Remember Uvaldi TX

If that were a wealthy community, those cops would have done whatever they had to do to save those kids.

Poor brown kids aren't worth a single cop's life.

#10 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 12:44 AM

Saw this video when it first came out.

I'm not sure what defense any of those cops could have for their actions.

But it is Sweet Florida.

So they'll probably get away without repercussions.

#11 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 12:46 AM

7-8-9: Unlike the UK whose unarmed constabulary evolved from a 'night watch,' armed US law-enforcement is a direct descendant of the infamous Slave Patrols of the antebellum South (for as you have all pointed out: to protect the wealthy and the status quo):

Ireland's constables are unarmed as well.

#12 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-05 12:51 AM

Perhaps they thought the driver was an escaped slave.

#13 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 01:00 AM

There now is an answer to Der Dotard's rhetorical question to African Americans about voting for Trump: "What do you have to lose?"

#14 | Posted by catdog at 2025-08-05 03:16 PM

#13: Those thugs certainly abused William McNeil Jr as a runaway slave. The poor guy stayed calm while the goons shattered his window. If those cretins are fired but not prosecuted, they will be welcomed into ICE: prisonhistory.eadrummondhistory.lmu.build

#15 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-05 03:31 PM

They won't be fired.

At most, they'll be put on paid suspension.

It's Florida. Abusing black people is part of the culture.

Florida has 3 holidays related to the confederacy and have removed all Black Americans have done throughout the history of this nation.

It's Florida, the Trumpshine state.

#16 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 03:47 PM

#16: With the exception of this mythic, unarmed detective from TV lore, ACAB: resizing.flixster.com

#17 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-08-05 04:20 PM

How about you idiots show the whole video?

All he had to do was COMPLY. He couldn't do THAT. In the middle of a stop is NOT the time to be trying to litigate the stop. That's what the courts are for.

He probably would have been sent on his way, but the PART YOU DIDNT SEE, WHAT LEAD UP TO THE POLICE TO ARREST HIM, conveniently wasn't shown.

America is getting tired of you race baiting liberals/progressives...

www.youtube.com

#18 | Posted by boaz at 2025-08-05 05:02 PM

All he had to do was COMPLY.

What did he do that wasn't in compliance?

Maybe he should have gotten out faster and screamed, "I'll sorry master! Oh lord! The white man is always right! God bless white people!"

The he could have shucked and jived around and sung an about how much he loves picking cotton.

#19 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 05:20 PM

There's zero justification for the actions of the officers, regardless of that man's behavior.

It was a traffic stop.

Boaz hates that he was born black.

It's his greatest shame.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 05:26 PM

There's zero justification for the actions of the officers, regardless of that man's behavior.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 05:26 PM | Reply | Flag:

Ashli Babbitt is holding on line 2...

#21 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-05 06:10 PM

You love to go out of your way to prove you're a ------- idiot.

Congratulations?

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 06:24 PM

"He probably would have been sent on his way, but the PART YOU DIDNT SEE, WHAT LEAD UP TO THE POLICE TO ARREST HIM, conveniently wasn't shown."

So, in BOAZ's view, we don't actually need any proof that the guy didn't comply but even with video proof of what the police did he still "knows" the cops did nothing wrong.

#23 | Posted by danni at 2025-08-05 07:28 PM

@#1 ... But after McNeil posted his video online last month and it went viral, the sheriff's office launched an internal investigation, which is ongoing. ...

But, what might be the outcome if Mr McNeil had not turned on his dashcam?

... It offered a unique view, providing the only clear footage of the violence by officers, including punches to his head that can't clearly be seen in officer body camera footage released by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. ...

The incident reports don't describe the officer punching McNeil in the head. The officer, who pulled McNeil over and then struck him, described the force this way in his report: "Physical force was applied to the suspect and he was taken to the ground." ...

So, Florida police now seem to know how to avoid their bodycams filming their apparent less than appropriate interactions with those they serve?

#24 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-06 12:50 AM

@#24 ... So, Florida police now seem to know how to avoid their bodycams filming their apparent less than appropriate interactions with those they serve? ...

Will Florida police be passing those tactics on to other police forces?

#25 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-08-06 01:51 AM

McNeil will now be charged for recording the interaction within 25' of an officer.

#26 | Posted by YAV at 2025-08-06 08:33 AM

omg this story? the full video shows a whole aspect of this arrest. This guy was beyond an -------, getting back in his car, shutting the door. Zero sympathy for him.

#27 | Posted by kwrx25 at 2025-08-06 11:41 AM

He didn't deserve to get punched in the face through the window.
And again after they had him in custody.

Ridiculous.

#28 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-08-06 11:45 AM

There's zero justification for the actions of the officers, regardless of that man's behavior.

#20 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 05:26 PM | Reply | Flag:

You love to go out of your way to prove you're a ------- idiot.

Congratulations?

#22 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-05 06:24 PM | Reply | Flag:

You're the moron who got caught in a corner. It's obvious that you're OK with unarmed white people being murdered by the police. You fkkn raetards cant make up your mind about supporting cops or not, based on who they kill.

#29 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-06 03:23 PM

You're the moron who got caught in a corner.

Ashli Babbitt is the one who got caught crawling through the window.

One shot for Ashli Babbitt!!!

Thanks for doubling down on racism and stupidity.

It's fun kicking you around.

#30 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-06 03:29 PM

It's amusing how all Trump supporters also support the J6 insurrection.

Bunch of ------- stupid cultists.

#31 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-06 03:30 PM

LMAO It was so bad that we elected him President, AGAIN...

#32 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-08-06 03:39 PM

He probably would have been sent on his way, but the PART YOU DIDNT SEE, WHAT LEAD UP TO THE POLICE TO ARREST HIM, conveniently wasn't shown.
#18 | Posted by boaz

Tell us, in your words, why it was right for police to instigate and escalate violence here.
What did we not see leading up to the broken window and the sucker punch, that made breaking the window and sucker punching him the right thing to do?
Your words, Boaz. If you can muster up the courage to speak them.

#33 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-06 03:40 PM

LMAO It was so bad that we elected him President, AGAIN...
#32 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Because you can only understand life from the Victim Narrative that Trump is selling.

#34 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-08-06 03:41 PM

What's funny is anyone believing Trump gives a ---- about them or America.

#35 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-06 03:43 PM

If you put Trump in a locked room with Melania, Jerrod, Ivanka, JD, a pistol with 4 rounds, and a Cheeseburger.... Ivanka would die last, and the burger would be really, really good after.

#36 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-06 03:50 PM

we elected him President, AGAIN...
#32 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTURDS

The choice was him or a black woman. All thinking ended right there.

Besides. Trump only won cause Musk rigged the election so he could have access to the government.

#37 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-08-06 03:55 PM

"omg this story?"

You sure you are not thinking of this story?

Army officer pepper-sprayed by police gets $3,685 in $1 million lawsuit

#38 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-06 05:13 PM

LMAO It was so bad that we elected him President, AGAIN...
#32 | Posted by lfthndthrds

Yeah. Great thinking there, eh? Democracy is messy, gosh durn it, and it ain't working perfect. So let's burn it all down and rebuild it with fascism.

Smooth move Exlax.

Enjoy your FAFO, but, don't expect me or most rational reasonable caring people to enjoy watching your --------.

#39 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-08-06 05:18 PM

``If you want to make an omelet,'' Lenin insisted, ``you have to be willing to break a few eggs.''

To which the Bolshevik replied, ``Comrade, I see the broken eggs everywhere. But where, oh where, is the omelet?''

Lenin and Hitler were both totalitarians, like Trump.

Dictatorship? How Hitler, Stalin and Trump show it's easier than you think

Andrea Chalupa discusses her graphic novel, co-authored with Sarah Kendzior, about authoritarianism and its dangers

www.theguardian.com

#40 | Posted by Corky at 2025-08-06 05:30 PM

You mean like "defund the police"?
Almost. Instead of police, we should have "public safety officers" (PSOs). In addition to policing, they would be trained and serve as fire fighters and EMTs. Hopefully, this would de-emphasize the "us vs them" warrior mentality and emphasize the public service mentality.

#41 | Posted by FedUpWithPols at 2025-08-06 07:08 PM

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