The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office is reviewing a request for an arrest warrant for Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams on a concealed weapons charge, Detroit station WXYZ-TV reported Tuesday.
The warrant request for carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle was issued late last week by the Detroit Police Department, following an October 8 traffic stop.
In a statement released later Tuesday, Detroit police said the investigation “continues to evolve and new information has come to light that we are actively working on.”
“We take every investigation seriously, especially when new facts and allegations emerge, and we are committed to acting quickly and transparently,” the ministry said in its statement. “Once the new facts are confirmed, we make the necessary changes to our decision-making process.
“Let me 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 warrant request was filed after an internal investigation was launched after WXYZ-TV asked the police department why Williams was not taken into custody.
“On October 8, my clients were arrested for an alleged traffic violation. During the check, my clients were both cooperative and respectful towards the police officers. The two guns found in the vehicle were both properly registered and the driver of the vehicle had the necessary credentials to carry them. We have cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so,” Williams’ attorney Todd Flood said in a statement released to WXYZ-TV.
According to the report, Williams was a passenger in a vehicle driven by his brother when they were stopped after midnight. Police asked Williams’ brother if there were any weapons in the vehicle, and he said there were two: one in the back seat and one under Jameson Williams’ passenger seat.
The gun in the backseat was registered to Williams’ brother, who had a concealed pistol permit. The gun placed under the passenger seat was registered to Jameson Williams, who did not have a concealed pistol permit, according to the report. Jameson Williams, who repeatedly identified himself as a Lions player during the stop according to body camera audio, was handcuffed and placed in the back of a police car.
“I think there was probable cause for arrest and he was under arrest by the patrol officer,” Detroit Police Commander Michael McGinnis told WXYZ-TV. “And because of that, he should have been transferred to the Detroit Detention Center and processed.”
However, a supervisor and later a sergeant arrived on the scene and Williams was released after the sergeant made several phone calls to senior officers to inquire whether Williams should be arrested or the concealed pistol permit belonging to his brother covered both weapons. Eventually, he called a lieutenant, whose comments cannot be heard in the body camera audio, and Williams was removed from handcuffs and released. No report was taken by police about the traffic stop, according to the report.
When first interviewed by WXYZ-TV, a deputy department chief said there was only one gun in the car; however, when Chief James White learned of the second firearm in the vehicle, he shared portions of the body camera footage with the station and ordered an investigation.
“Jameson immediately let us know that he was a passenger during a routine traffic stop on October 8th. We have discussed the incident with him and have kept the league informed of what we know,” the Lions said in a statement to WXYZ-TV. “We understand he was released without incident or citation. We now understand that the Detroit Police Department is revisiting the matter. Jameson has retained an attorney and we will make no further comment out of respect for the legal process.
The traffic stop occurred two weeks before Williams was suspended two games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances. Williams said in a statement last week that the suspension came as a “complete surprise.” He was also suspended four games last season for violating the league’s playing policy.
Williams, selected 12th overall by the Lions in the 2022 draft, is second on the team this season with 361 receiving yards and three touchdowns.