The Truth About Police Force, Race, and Why Anthony McNeil Jr. Is Lying

By Brandon Tatum

I told y’all there was more to this story—and once again, I was right.

I’m sick of the performative outrage every time law enforcement interacts with a black suspect who refuses to comply. It always seems to be the same narrative: “unarmed black man attacked by cops,” only for the full bodycam footage to drop and expose the suspect’s lies, misconduct, and criminal behavior. The Anthony McNeil Jr. case is no different.

Let’s make one thing clear: JSO was justified in the force used against McNeil. There was nothing criminal or unlawful about it. The only thing being reviewed internally is whether the officer’s slap—or more accurately, a palm-strike to gain control—adhered to policy. But the law gives officers discretion to use reasonable force during arrests, and that's exactly what we saw here.

What Really Happened

Sheriff T.K. Waters, a real leader in law enforcement, held a press conference and did what so many departments fail to do—he released the full bodycam footage. This wasn’t some snippet curated for TikTok sympathy—it showed the whole story.

McNeil's headlights were not on, he wasn’t wearing a seatbelt, had a suspended license, and had drugs in the vehicle. He refused lawful commands several times, argued, delayed, and resisted arrest.

Let me tell you—no reasonable person behaves like this during a traffic stop unless they have something to hide. McNeil didn’t want to comply because he knew what was coming. And instead of accepting responsibility like a man, he hired Benjamin Crump, a glorified ambulance chaser who weaponizes outrage for profit.

Context Matters—And So Does Truth

We need to stop pretending arrests are supposed to look like a Hollywood drama with violin music and inspirational quotes. Arrests are not pretty. They are often violent. That’s not because officers want it that way, but because suspects resist, argue, and force officers to escalate.

And let me say this directly to the people in the back: Use of force does not mean abuse of force. The law allows officers to use reasonable and necessary force to gain control during an arrest. That includes strikes, takedowns, and physical control.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, police officers had contact with over 53.8 million people in 2020. Fewer than 1.3% of those contacts involved the threat or use of force. And among those, Black individuals were no more likely than whites to experience force when controlling for arrest circumstances and behavior (BJS, 2022).

In fact, Black suspects disproportionately resist arrest at higher rates than other demographics. A 2021 study published in Criminology & Public Policy found that noncompliance and resistance—not race—are the biggest predictors of police use of force.

So what are we really talking about?

My Critique of the Officer—And Why It Doesn’t Change the Facts

Do I think the slap was necessary? Not entirely. I think the officer could have avoided that specific strike. But was it unlawful? No. Was it excessive? No. It wasn’t a closed-fist punch. It was a measured, single strike to gain compliance. After that original strike, the suspect continued to resist passively. Then, when out of the vehicle, the suspect began to escalate and still did not comply with multiple instructions for him to put his hands behind his back. The officer in question decided to strike the suspect with a closed fist to the suspect's chin. That strike worked well, and the suspect complied, and the situation de-escalated.

That’s called effective policing, not abuse.

The officer called for backup, showed restraint, and didn’t escalate without reason. This is the training we receive. This is the protocol. As someone who wore the badge, I, in my professional opinion, believe this officer did his job correctly.

Let’s Talk About Accountability—Specifically in the Black Community

Now to the part some of y’all don’t want to hear.

We have a culture problem in certain parts of the Black community. A chronic distrust of police—often fueled by lies and half-truths—and a dangerous entitlement that says we don’t have to comply with lawful orders.

Let me be very clear: Complying with the police is not optional. You don’t get to “debate your rights” on the side of the road. That’s what courtrooms are for. Trying to litigate with cops in the street is how you get arrested—or worse.

And let’s not pretend this is a one-off. Why does it seem like every single viral police incident involves a black suspect who resists, lies, or runs? You can be mad at me all you want—but you know I’m telling the truth.

If Anthony McNeil Jr. really believed he was mistreated, why didn’t he file a complaint months ago? Why wait until a viral clip could be monetized? Why not show the full video?

Because it was never about justice, it was about attention and clout.

The Final Word

I predict this officer will be cleared of any wrongdoing. And the public—especially black Americans—need to wake up to the reality: you are not above the law.

Stop believing these Instagram lawyers. Stop weaponizing race to excuse criminal behavior. And stop making heroes out of people who break the law and then lie about it.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you comply, you won’t die. It's as simple as that.

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Sources:

• Bureau of Justice Statistics, "Contacts Between Police and the Public," 2020.

• Criminology & Public Policy, “Explaining Police Use of Force: The Role of Resistance, Race, and Suspect Behavior,” 2021.

• JSO Press Conference, July 2025.

• Bodycam footage was released via the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

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Brandon Tatum
Former Tucson Police Officer