JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Diya TV) — A Jacksonville police officer has been stripped of his law enforcement duties after a viral video showed him breaking a car window and punching a Black man during a traffic stop earlier this year. The incident, which occurred on Feb. 19, is now under internal review by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

The video, which surfaced on social media, captured part of the violent arrest of 22-year-old William Anthony McNeil Jr. The footage shows officers ordering McNeil out of his car during a daytime traffic stop. When McNeil did not exit, one officer broke the driver’s side window and punched him in the face. Officers then pulled McNeil from the vehicle, struck him again, and forced him to the ground.

The sheriff’s office identified the officer who broke the window and used force as Deputy D. Bowers. Sheriff T.K. Waters said Bowers has been stripped of his law enforcement authority pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

Sheriff Waters said the stop occurred because McNeil was allegedly driving without headlights in conditions requiring them. McNeil disputed the claim, stating that it was daylight and there was no rain or fog. During the stop, McNeil repeatedly asked to speak to a supervisor and requested that officers show him the law requiring headlights under those conditions.

McNeil also asked officers to dispatch a sergeant to the scene. Instead, officers ordered him out of the vehicle seven times before breaking the window and using force.

Waters said McNeil was arrested for several charges, including resisting an officer without violence, driving with a suspended license, possessing less than 20 grams of marijuana, and not wearing a seatbelt. He eventually pleaded guilty to resisting without violence and driving on a suspended license. He served two days in jail.

Court records confirm the charges and sentencing. They also note McNeil’s alleged use of drug paraphernalia and failure to use headlights in poor visibility conditions.

Harry Daniels, McNeil’s attorney, said his client was afraid and acted cautiously during the stop. Daniels explained that McNeil, aware of the risks Black men face in police encounters, propped up his phone to record the incident. The video was not initially known to officers.

Daniels criticized the officers’ use of force, stating that a supervisor could have been sent to de-escalate the situation. He said McNeil suffered a concussion, needed stitches, and had his lip punctured by his own tooth as a result of the punches.

“This officer broke his window and just punched him in his face,” Daniels said in an interview with ABC News. “We are seeking all options to ensure accountability.”

Daniels confirmed plans to pursue legal action, saying, “We are planning to do everything we can to secure justice.”

Sheriff Waters released the officers’ body camera footage after the cellphone video gained national attention. At a press conference, Waters defended the legal authority of police to order individuals out of vehicles during stops.

“The law requires that a person comply with a police officer’s command during a traffic stop,” Waters said. “There are no options.”

Still, Waters declined to either condemn or defend Bowers’ actions. “Just because force is ugly doesn’t mean that it’s unlawful or contrary to public policy,” he said. He emphasized that the ongoing administrative review will determine whether any department policies were violated.

Waters also pushed back when a reporter described Bowers’ punch as a “sucker punch,” arguing that context matters.

While the State Attorney’s Office has determined that no criminal laws were broken by the officers involved, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is still reviewing the incident. It is unclear if other deputies involved have been placed on leave or disciplined.

“I will neither defend nor commend Officer Bowers’ response until all the facts are known,” Waters said. “That’s what we’re investigating now.”

As the review continues, McNeil and his legal team are preparing their next steps in a case that has sparked growing public scrutiny of police conduct and use of force.