Florida Deputy Cleared in Controversial Arrest of Black Student; Lawyers Seek Federal Probe

Prosecutors in Florida have announced they will take no further action against a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office deputy involved in the controversial February arrest of a Black college student. Officer D. Bowers, who was seen on a viral cellphone video punching and dragging William McNeil from his vehicle during a traffic stop, has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing, according to an investigative report released by the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

The report, which was made public this past Wednesday, concludes that Bowers’ actions did not constitute a crime. While the initial cellphone footage sparked national outrage, prosecutors deemed it “incomplete in scope,” citing officer body camera footage and interviews that provided additional context. The report states that Bowers initiated a lawful traffic stop for McNeil’s failure to use headlights and buckle his seatbelt, and that his use of force was justified after McNeil allegedly disobeyed a dozen lawful commands, including refusing to provide his license and registration and keeping his car door locked for several minutes.

Attorneys for William McNeil, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, swiftly condemned the report, calling it “little more than an attempt to justify the actions of Officer Bowers and his fellow officers after the fact.” They expressed little surprise, given that Sheriff T.K. Waters had previously indicated similar conclusions. In response to the state’s decision, McNeil’s legal team announced their intention to request that the U.S. Department of Justice investigate the incident and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, emphasizing their commitment to seeking justice.

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