A video has gone viral of a man being pummelled by a Jacksonville officer in Florida after he smashed his window during a traffic stop. The driver was reportedly pulled over “for not having his headlights on,” and when he did not comply with the instructions, they became aggressive and physical.
The incident, which happened in February, came to light over the weekend when the man allegedly shared the video on Instagram under the handle @904will. According to the post, at the time of the incident, there was “no rain, smoke, or fog,” but officers insisted that he should have his headlights on.
In the video, the driver asked an off-camera officer why he was pulled over, and upon getting a response, the driver justified his headlights being off by saying, “There’s no rain.” However, the officer dismisses the statement, replying, “It doesn’t matter.”
The policeman told the motorist that he was “still required to have headlights on.” Following this remark, the driver requests to see the written traffic law he violated, and the officer says that he will show it to him once he exits his vehicle. However, the driver requested to speak to the cop’s supervisor, which is when the matter escalated.
Another policeman, standing at the driver’s side, punches the window until it shatters and then demands the driver exit the car. When the driver does not comply, the cop proceeds to punch the driver in the face. The driver neither retaliates nor complies with the command to exit the vehicle.
When he is asked to show his hands, the motorist willingly lifts both his hands, and he is ultimately hauled out of the car. Once outside, the same policeman strikes him in the head again and then slams him to the ground.
According to the post, the driver was left with a chipped tooth and a cut on his lip that required stitches. He said he also suffered a “concussion and short-term memory loss.” He also expressed that his mental health has been affected by the incident, and while he is still mentally healing, he needs to bring awareness to the matter.
After the video went viral, Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters released a statement on Sunday, confirming that the incident happened on February 19, 2025, and informing the public that the video and the incident are being thoroughly probed.
