2024-10-31 05:05:02
Stating that “no one is above the law,” Detroit police confirmed the department is investigating how a supervisor handled the near-arrest earlier this month of Detroit Lions third-year receiver Jameson Williams on a concealed weapons charge after a traffic stop.
The unnamed supervisor OK’d the release of Williams rather than arrest him on a gun charge. While the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is now considering a warrant request submitted after the fact by Detroit police, the Oct. 8 incident was the focus of discussion around metro Detroit on Wednesday.
A defense attorney, who said he works on hundreds of such cases per year, told the Free Press that prosecutors often decline charges in cases similar to Williams’ and it’s common for police to cut people some slack during similar incidents.
Williams was a passenger of the vehicle that was pulled over for speeding. Officers found two guns in the car at the time of the stop, according to a report from WXYZ-TV (Channel 7).
One gun was found in the back seat and was registered to Williams’ brother, the driver. The other gun found under Williams’ seat was registered to the football player. Williams did not have a concealed pistol license to carry the weapon, but his brother did. Neither brother was arrested at the time of the incident, but Williams was briefly handcuffed and detained.
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The Free Press asked Detroit police about the incident on Oct. 8 that same day, but police said “no reports or incident for Jameson Williams.” WXYZ-TV first broke the story Tuesday night.
In body camera footage published by the TV station, an officer told Williams he was being taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon. Williams could be heard in the video repeatedly identifying himself, saying at one point, “I play for the Lions, bro.”
The officer maintained that Williams’ status as a Detroit Lions player would not affect his arrest decision. But when a supervisor came to the scene, recognized Williams, and called higher-ups in the department, Williams was let go, according to Channel 7.
That supervisor was heard in the video talking to his superior on the phone: “You’re a (expletive) hero. Thank you so much.”
Detroit police said it is investigating the traffic stop “and its entirety,” including the actions of the supervisor on scene.
“We take every investigation seriously, especially when new allegations and facts emerge, and we are committed to acting in a swift and transparent manner,” the department said in a statement.
Detroit police submitted a warrant request to the county prosecutor’s office for potential charges against Williams, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller confirmed on Wednesday, although a charging decision hasn’t been made.
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“Let it be clear: no one in the City of Detroit is above the law. Anyone who commits a crime will be held accountable, regardless of their position or status,” the Detroit Police Department wrote in a statement.
But defense attorney Adam Clements said prosecutors often don’t charge cases in which there’s at least one concealed pistol license holder in the car and it’s not uncommon for officers to cut people in Williams’ situation a break.
Clements said he has had cases where officers have told the CPL holder that all guns in the vehicle need to stay with the holder until they arrive home. It’s also common for officers to write someone a ticket for improper transport of a firearm instead of charging them, he said.
“You have a valid CPL holder in the car. Both guns are legally owned and registered. I didn’t see anything egregious — this is much to do about nothing,” Clements said.
“They did not have to arrest him and it wasn’t an abuse of discretion not to do so.”
Todd Flood, Williams’ attorney, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Flood said to WXYZ that both men were cooperative during the traffic stop and emphasized that the firearms were legally registered. The Lions issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming that they are keeping the league informed as the investigation unfolds.
Williams is currently serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and could face further discipline by the league.
Free Press staff writers Dave Birkett and Nour Rahal contributed to this report.
Andrea Sahouri covers criminal justice for the Detroit Free Press. Contact her at[email protected] or on X:@andreamsahouri.
