JSO report says man reached for knife in viral traffic stop arrest. Bodycam video never shows it
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In the arrest report of William McNeil Jr., the arresting officer stated that McNeil reached for a knife.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Questions remain after Jacksonville Sheriff T. K. Waters released body camera videos from the February arrest of a 22-year-old man, that has now gone viral. 

William McNeil Jr. was pulled over on Feb. 19, 2025. He was ultimately arrested and charged with resisting an officer. Five months later, McNeil posted a video of his interaction with officers that day. In his video, which has now gained national attention, an officer can be seen breaking his car window and punching him in the face.

First Coast News obtained McNeil’s arrest report. It states McNeil refused to comply with officers and would not get out of the car. It also stated McNeil “was reaching for the floorboard of the vehicle where a large knife was sitting.”

Waters released three body camera videos from three different officers on scene, along with a picture of the knife that was found. McNeil could not be seen in any of the videos reaching for the knife. Waters was asked about this during a press conference Monday. He said he did not see McNeil’s hands and did not want to make assumptions.

“I don’t see where his hands are. I can’t assume, Jake. No one can assume. I operate and we operate off facts and facts alone. I can’t make assumptions. All I can go by when I read those things is what’s stated in the report. I’m not saying whether it’s true or whether it’s not, I’m saying no one sees his hands at that point. He says, put your hands up, then his hands come up, but after the after the strike to the face, like I said again, I’m not trying this case in front of the public. I’m trying to give the public the information in context of what happened. No one saw his hands at that point. Don’t know what happened from there, but that’s part of the investigative process,” Waters explained.

The incident is now under administrative review. In a statement, McNeil’s attorney said “the narrative in this report isn’t just suspicious. It is completely divorced from reality.”

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