DETROIT (AP) — An internal investigation is underway by the Detroit police concerning an incident involving Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams. This comes after a traffic stop revealed a gun underneath his seat, which he did not possess a permit to carry, authorities reported.
On October 8, during the traffic stop, Williams was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car. His brother was driving the vehicle and had a concealed-carry permit for his own firearm, as stated by WXYZ. Williams was heard on body-camera footage saying, “I play for the Lions, bro. I’m Jameson Williams,” asserting that he lives in Detroit and claims he needs the gun for his protection.
According to Michigan laws, without a concealed-carry permit, a gun owner must keep their firearm in a closed case while inside a vehicle, with violations classified as felonies. Despite the apparent breach of regulations, Williams was released after a supervising sergeant consulted with senior officers over the phone. The gun was subsequently returned to him.
Commander Michael McGinnis expressed his dissatisfaction with the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating, “I feel that there was probable cause to arrest, and he was under arrest by the patrol officer. He should have been conveyed to the Detroit Detention Center and processed.” Despite this, the traffic stop appeared to conclude without further action until WXYZ began probing the details.
The Wayne County prosecutor’s office is now reviewing the situation to determine if charges will be filed. Prosecutor Kym Worthy commented, “We just don’t know at this point,” during a news conference unrelated to the case.
In response to the inquiry, the Detroit Police Department issued a statement emphasizing that “no one in the city of Detroit is above the law,” stating that anyone committing a crime will be held accountable, irrespective of their social status.
Williams’ attorney, Todd Flood, claimed that no laws were broken since his brother’s concealed-carry permit could validly cover both firearms. Flood stated, “We have cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so.”
Williams, who was selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft, is currently serving a two-game suspension due to violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy. He also missed the first four games of the 2023 season for breaching the NFL’s gambling policy. Furthermore, the team was promptly notified about the traffic stop.
Coach Dan Campbell, when asked about Williams’ situation, acknowledged that “it certainly doesn’t look good,” but expressed confidence in the player’s character, stating, “I know what this kid is made of. He’s worth hanging with. He’s going to learn from this, and he’s going to grow and be better for all this.”
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
This rewrite enhances clarity while preserving relevant details and the original HTML structure.
