Prosecutors in Florida cleared an officer who was involved in a violent traffic stop that gained national attention when a video of the encounter went viral online, sparking outrage and several official reviews.
The State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida announced on Aug. 14 that they will take "no further action" against Officer Donald Bowers, who could be seen on video smashing the window of a driver and punching him in the head.
Prosecutors concluded that Bowers' use of force was justified, saying the driver, 22-year-old William McNeil Jr., had refused to get out of the car despite repeated warnings and orders to do so. In a 16-page investigative report, the state attorney's office said McNeil "created a dangerous situation for himself and law enforcement."
McNeil's lawyers, Ben Crump and Harry Daniels, said prosecutors did not interview McNeil and ignorred his multiple injuries, including a chipped tooth and a concussion. They also said they will request the Department of Justice to investigate the incident and the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.
"The Investigative Memo from the State Attorney’s Office from the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida is little more than an attempt to justify the actions of Officer Bowers and his fellow officers after the fact," McNeil's attorneys said in a joint statement.
