DETROIT (WWJ) — Detroit police are investigating why Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams avoided arrest during a traffic stop in early October, according to a new report.
Williams and his brother were pulled over by Detroit police just after midnight on Tuesday, Oct. 8 in the area of Conner and Jefferson, east of downtown, according to a report by WXYZ in Detroit Tuesday. The incident happened two weeks before Williams was suspended by the NFL for violating the league's performance enhancing drug policy.
After pulling the car over for speeding, officers asked Williams’ brother if there were weapons in the car and he disclosed there were two in the car — one laid in the back seat and the second under the star wide receiver’s seat, according to the report.
The gun in the back seat was registered to his brother, who had a valid concealed pistol license (CPL), according to the report. The second gun under Williams’ seat, however, was registered to him, but he did not have a CPL, according to the report.
Officers then told Williams he was going to be taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon. Body camera footage shared in the WXYZ story shows that the officers involved did not know who Williams was, but on multiple occasions he told them he plays for the Lions.
“I play for the Lions, bro. I’m Jameson Williams,” he is heard saying, before saying it again two more times. The officer told Williams that that did not matter and he was going to be arrested.
Body camera footage shows Williams said “I got the gun for protection” because he lives in Detroit.
While Williams was handcuffed and placed in the back of a squad car, about to be taken to the Detroit Detention Center, a sergeant soon arrived at the scene and “immediately recognized” Williams as a Lions player, according to the WXYZ report.
Body camera footage also showed the sergeant’s phone wallpaper was a Lions logo.
The TV station reports over the next 30 minutes or so, the sergeant “would make a series of phone calls to higher-ranking officials, trying to determine if Williams needed to be arrested or if the driver’s CPL covered both his and Wiliams’ gun.”
The sergeant appears to lean into one of the arresting officers and say “I’m so mad at you two.”
While the sergeant is heard saying “be advised, he’s coming in,” alluding to the fact Williams would be arrested for CCW, he was ultimately not arrested as a lieutenant said he should be released from custody, according to WXYZ.
A police report was not written and no warrant request was submitted, according to the report.
Detroit police have now launched an internal affairs investigation into the traffic stop and the decision to not arrest him.
The Wayne County Prosecutor's Office confirmed to WWJ that a warrant request has since been submitted and is being reviewed.
The Detroit Lions released the following statement to WWJ:
"Jameson made us aware immediately that he was a passenger in a routine traffic stop on October 8th. We discussed the incident with him and have kept the league informed of what we know. We understand he was released without incident or citation. It is now our understanding that the Detroit Police Department is revisiting the matter. Jameson has hired an attorney, and we will not be commenting further out of respect for the legal process."
Williams' attorney, Todd Flood, also released a statement:
"On October 8, my clients were pulled over for an alleged traffic violation. During the course of the stop, my clients were both cooperative and respectful with the police officers. With the two pistols that were found in the vehicle, they were both properly registered and the driver in the vehicle had the proper credentials to carry them. We have cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so."
WWJ has reached out to Detroit police for comment on the matter.