Prosecutors clear Florida deputy in arrest of a Black man punched and dragged from his car

Prosecutors will take “no further action” against a Florida sheriff’s deputy in the arrest of a Black college student pulled from his car and beaten by officers during a February traffic stop

Prosecutors will take “no further action” against a Florida sheriff’s deputy in the arrest of a Black college student pulled from his car and beaten by officers during a February traffic stop.

The actions of Officer D. Bowers of the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office did not constitute a crime, according to an investigative report released by the State Attorney’s Office for the Fourth Judicial Circuit of Florida.

A video showing officers punching and dragging William McNeil from his car sparked nationwide outrage, though Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters has said there’s more to the story than the cellphone video that went viral online and that McNeil was repeatedly asked to exit his vehicle.

In the investigative memo released Wednesday, prosecutors called the cellphone footage “incomplete in scope” and said Bowers made a lawful traffic stop when he pulled McNeil over and that Bowers’ use of force was justified.

William McNeil Jr. with members of his legal team in Chicago on July 29.Scott Olson / Getty Images file“The State Attorney’s Office has reviewed this matter to determine whether any of Officer Bowers’ actions constitute a crime. We conclude they do not,” the report reads.