CHICAGO, Unwell. (WFLA) — William McNeil Jr., the 22-year-old faculty scholar who was punched within the face a number of instances by Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace deputies, held a press convention along with his authorized group in Chicago on Tuesday.
McNeil was driving in Jacksonville when he was pulled over by officers for not having headlights on, though it was daytime. He launched cellphone video of the interplay with the officers, during which certainly one of them will be seen punching by means of his window and hitting him within the face earlier than dragging him out of the automobile.
His attorneys mentioned they’re now working to exonerate McNeil, who pleaded responsible to resisting an officer with out violence and driving with a suspended license. Civil rights legal professional Ben Crump mentioned McNeil entered the plea with out being assigned a public defender and whereas struggling a concussion from the interplay with police.
The press convention was held on the Nationwide Bar Affiliation’s conference in Chicago and was attended by Wiley Adams, the group’s president. The NBA is the biggest community of predominantly Black attorneys and judges within the nation.
McNeil’s attorneys additionally claimed one of many officers pulled a gun on him in the course of the interplay, regardless of McNeil being unarmed and presenting no hazard to the officers.
His attorneys additionally mentioned they consider there’s extra physique digital camera video, from the officer who drew his weapon, in addition to sprint digital camera video that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Workplace hasn’t launched. They mentioned further video might verify that it was not raining in the course of the interplay, because the officers mentioned, and that their automobile headlights weren’t on both.
McNeil’s authorized group will problem his conviction, they mentioned, and try to clear his legal document. They mentioned he had by no means been arrested or convicted of any crimes earlier than this incident.
Crump additionally mentioned JSO’s historical past of pulling individuals over for related infractions.
Previously three years, he mentioned, JSO has cited 78 individuals for driving with out headlights, 63 of whom have been Black, regardless of Black individuals solely making up 15% of Jacksonville’s inhabitants.
“How is it that you’ve got such an awesome variety of Black individuals being charged and arrested for driving with out headlights? Why is it solely Black individuals being stopped?” Crump questioned.
