Jacksonville officer caught on camera punching driver after traffic stop [VIDEO]
Viral Video Shows Jacksonville Officer Breaking Window, Punching Unarmed Driver
A disturbing video circulating on social media shows a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer escalating a traffic stop into a violent encounter. The footage was captured on February 19. Now, it’s going viral this weekend, the footage shows the officer breaking the car window of a Black man. Thus, punching him multiple times, and slamming him to the ground after pulling him over for allegedly driving without headlights during overcast weather.
The driver is identified online as @904will. He remained seated and unarmed throughout the incident. His calm request to speak with a supervisor and ask for clarification about Florida’s headlight law was met with force. Therefore, sparking widespread outrage and debate. Now, the video is trending on social media. As a result, it’s the source of much debate.
Timeline of the Incident
The incident began when officers pulled the man over for not using headlights in cloudy weather. Florida law does require headlights during conditions that reduce visibility, but the driver contested the reasoning, pointing out that other cars nearby also had lights off and that it wasn’t raining.
The two-minute video begins with the driver calmly asking for clarification. “Pull up the law,” he says, and then requests a supervisor. The officer at the window appears agitated but continues the conversation.
Suddenly, a second officer appears and punches the window, shattering it. As glass rains down, he shouts, “Exit the vehicle now!” while landing multiple strikes on the driver, who appears stunned and continues asking why he’s being attacked. The officers then pull him from the car, punch him again, and slam him to the ground.
At no point in the video does the driver appear aggressive. In fact, he raises his hands and repeatedly says, “I’m not resisting.”
Driver Speaks Out: Injuries and Trauma
@904will later posted that he suffered a chipped tooth, over nine stitches in his lips, a concussion, short-term memory loss, and ongoing mental health challenges from the incident. “I wasn’t even healed mentally enough to post this. But I had to,” he wrote, sharing the video online.
The man speaking out shows a sense of strength from him.
JSO’s Official Response
In response to the video’s rapid spread, JSO Sheriff T.K. Waters issued a statement on Sunday, acknowledging the footage and announcing an internal review. “We are aware of a video circulating on social media showing a traffic stop represented to be from February 19, 2025,” the statement read. “Officers are held to high standards, and we are committed to a thorough investigation.”
The agency noted it was previously unaware of any formal complaint but emphasized transparency. As of this weekend, no charges have been filed against the officers involved, whose names have not been released, and no body camera footage has been made public to corroborate or contradict the driver’s recording.
Legal and Political Fallout
Legal experts say the case could set the stage for a civil rights lawsuit under Section 1983, similar to the 2025 U.S. Supreme Court case Barnes v. Felix. That ruling revived a lawsuit over excessive force, stating that the use of strikes and window breaks must be evaluated based on the “totality of circumstances.”
In this case, the lack of an immediate threat could be damning.
Florida State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville) responded to the video by publicly contacting JSO. “This demands accountability,” she posted. “We’ve seen too many of these interactions end with trauma—or worse.”
Public and Social Media Reactions
Public reaction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) has been swift and polarized, with the original post from @DailyLoud garnering over 2 million views, 25,000 likes, and thousands of replies. Many users condemned the officers’ actions as an “attack” rather than an “altercation,” pointing to the ignored request for a supervisor and the driver’s non-violent demeanor.
One X user,@AndreBJones2, wrote: “It wasn’t an ‘altercation’, he was attacked. They broke his car window, pepper-sprayed him, and dragged him from his vehicle… This isn’t law enforcement, these are thugs.” Others called for lawsuits and settlements, with @TheSeanMitchell predicting: “That police officer is messed up. Fired for sure. Department sued.” Conversely, some defended the officers, arguing that the driver’s refusal to exit the vehicle justified the force for officer safety.
@sp27331 commented: “Why can’t the guy just comply?” while another user highlighted: “They had to break his window, he CLEARLY wasn’t complying… FAFO.” These sentiments reflect a divide often seen in discussions of police encounters, where compliance is pitted against rights to question authority.
Community Impact
This event echoes national trends post-2020 police reform efforts, where traffic stops remain a flashpoint for disparities. A deeper analysis reveals themes of bias, with 70% of related posts accusing racism, given the driver’s race and the officers’ apparent mixed demographics. Chronological trends show spikes in commentary around the initial February reports and the July viral release, with hashtags like #JSOPoliceBrutality trending briefly.
As the investigation unfolds, community advocates call for independent oversight and bodycam release to ensure accountability. The driver, meanwhile, faces ongoing physical and mental recovery. Thus, a stark reminder of how a simple headlight violation can spiral into life-altering trauma. In a city grappling with trust in law enforcement, this video may catalyze change—or deepen divisions.
Final Word: Justice Pending
The driver remains out on bond, and no further legal filings have been made. He has hired an attorney and plans to file a lawsuit against the city and the officers involved.
This incident remains under investigation by JSO, but the court of public opinion has already rendered strong judgments. Whether that leads to policy changes or legal consequences remains to be seen.
In the meantime, one thing is clear: even routine traffic stops can spiral into violent encounters when officers resort to excessive force instead of communication. Until systemic reform reaches beyond slogans and into street-level protocol, videos like this one will keep surfacing—and the trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve will continue to erode.