JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump said he is investigating what he describes as a possible pattern of excessive force by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, following the release of video showing a violent arrest in Clay County.
The case centers on 24-year-old Dashaun Williams, who was arrested in November at a gas station in Middleburg. Video from the scene shows officers beating and kicking Williams during the encounter.
“The public deserves answers about why there appears to be a pattern of excessive force against Black people in Jacksonville, Florida, and Dashaun deserves accountability for the injuries he suffered,” Crump said.
Crump said his legal team is reviewing whether Williams’ civil rights were violated and is examining other high-profile cases involving the sheriff’s office.
“This is not a rare occurrence,” Crump said. “We saw last year how Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office officers pulled William McNeil from his car during a traffic stop and used brutal force against him.”
The case involving William McNeil happened in February 2025 and gained widespread attention after a video showed officers punching McNeil and dragging him from his vehicle. Sheriff T.K. Waters said at the time that McNeil repeatedly refused commands, leading to the escalation. The State Attorney’s Office later cleared the officers of criminal wrongdoing. The sheriff’s gang unit was not involved in that incident.
Concerns about the gang unit’s tactics are not new. Former detective Kim Varner told News4JAX in 2022 that officers in the unit had a reputation for aggressive policing, particularly in predominantly Black neighborhoods. He cited the arrest of Le’keian Woods, whose attorneys filed a federal lawsuit alleging excessive force. The U.S. Department of Justice later cleared the officers of criminal civil rights violations.
Speaking Friday on WJCT’s “First Coast Connect,” Varner said the force used in Williams’ arrest appeared excessive.
“There’s no reason for the violence seen in that video,” Varner said. “When they approached him, they immediately started striking him. No one can justify that, in my opinion.”
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said it could not comment on Williams’ case because it remains under administrative review.
Crump said he is working with attorney Harry Daniels and plans to hold a news conference in Jacksonville next week.