William McNeal Jr., the man at the center of a widely circulated video showing a violent arrest, has publicly shared his account of what happened during the incident.
As Vibe reports, at a press conference streamed by Action News Jax, McNeal appeared with family members and attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels to speak on the encounter that drew widespread attention online.
McNeal recalled the fear he felt when confronted by a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Officer during a traffic stop. The officer is seen in the viral footage punching McNeal before dragging him from the vehicle and arresting him.
“That day, I just wanted to know why I was getting pulled over [and] why I needed to step out of the car,” McNeal stated. “I knew I didn’t do anything wrong. I was really just scared.”
His stepfather, Alton Solomon, gave a heartfelt statement during the event, describing the emotional toll the video had on him. “I’ve been through what he’s been through,” Solomon said. “To see that moment made me go back to when I was 22. It hurt. It made me upset.” Holding back tears, he added, “To see that is a hurting feeling.”
Scroll to continue reading
What happened to William McNeil Jr. should never happen during a traffic stop. He was punched, dragged, and dehumanized — not for committing a violent crime, but for asking questions. America, this treatment is far from acceptable! pic.twitter.com/kFzMq3e7b1
— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 23, 2025
Crump also addressed the press, calling attention to the broader implications of the incident. The prominent civil rights lawyer emphasized the emotional and psychological impact such use-of-force encounters have, not only on the individuals involved but on their families and communities as well.
“Do not listen to justification. Believe your eyes. Believe your ears with this. Ocular proof — there’s audio proof. And the sheriff cannot justify this,” he explained to CNN News Central anchor Kate Bolduan.
William McNeil, un homme noir non armé, a été battu à plusieurs reprises par des policiers américains. Ce n’est que 5 mois plus tard, après que la victime a rendu les images publiques, qu’une enquête a été ouverte. pic.twitter.com/8G2KLQLu3b
— AJ+ français (@ajplusfrancais) July 22, 2025
“He cannot condone this. You must condemn this. I mean, there is no way you can say this reflects your policies, your training, your values. This is very disturbing on every level,” Crump added. “He literally was having a 21st-century Rosa Parks moment where an African American asked that they be respected as citizens with all the constitutional guarantees that are promised to all American citizens. That’s what this was.”
The press conference aimed to bring awareness to the ongoing pattern of excessive force by law enforcement. Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters issued the following statement following the event:
“In light of William McNeil Jr.’s public announcement that he has retained counsel, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office will not offer any further comment regarding the circumstances surrounding McNeil’s February 19th arrest. Our agency has publicly released body-worn camera footage pertaining to this matter, and I provided a briefing on the status of the investigation earlier this week. This publicly shared information is currently available on all JSO’s social media platforms and our transparency portal. However, in anticipation of litigation, our agency will not speak further on this matter.”
Meanwhile, McNeal’s legal team is expected to pursue further legal action as they call for accountability from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
