Civil rights attorneys to represent man who was assaulted by police officers
WARNING: The video attached to the article may be disturbing for some people. Viewer discretion is advised.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NBC, KYMA/KECY) - Civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels were hired by a man from Florida after a video from a February traffic stop went viral.
The video shows Jacksonville police officers smash a car window and punch 22-year-old William McNeil Jr. in the head.
The traffic stop happened on February 19 of this year.
On Sunday night, civil rights attorneys Ben Crump and Harry Daniels announced that McNeil had retained them to represent him.
In the video, the officers say they pulled McNeil over because the vehicle's headlights were not on.
McNeil questioned the traffic stop because it was not raining and it was still light outside.
One of the officers can be heard telling McNeil "it doesn't matter" and said McNeil is "still required to have headlights on."
McNeil is asked to step out of the car, but when McNeil asks to speak with a supervisor, another officer punches the driver's window until it shatters and then punches McNeil in the head.
McNeil is then unbuckled from his seatbelt and forcibly removed from the vehicle.
Attorneys Crump and Daniel say McNeil suffered a great deal due to the incident. They say the best outcome would be that the officers involved are held accountable.
