According to reports, Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams escaped arrest following the discovery of a gun in his car, and police are now investigating.
Police are looking into why Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was not arrested after a concealed weapon was found during a traffic stop, according to a report by WXYZ.
The stop occurred shortly after midnight on October 8, just two weeks before his two-game suspension for breaching the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy. Officers pulled over a car driven by Williams’ brother for speeding near Connor and Jefferson Avenue in Detroit.
During the interaction, his brother disclosed that two guns were in the vehicle—one, registered to him, was in the backseat, while the other, registered to Williams, was located under the player’s seat. While Williams’ brother possessed a concealed pistol license (CPL), Williams did not.
Police informed Williams that he would be arrested for carrying a concealed weapon. Body camera footage showed him repeatedly stating, “I play for the Lions, bro,” but the officer insisted that Williams’ status would not influence the arrest decision.
After being handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, a supervisor was summoned. Upon arrival, the sergeant quickly recognized Williams and began making phone calls to higher-ranking officials.
Initially, it seemed that Williams would be taken to jail, but after further discussions, the sergeant appeared to be instructed to release him. “You’re a (expletive) hero. Thank you so much,” the sergeant is heard saying on the phone in footage obtained by Channel 7. Williams was released, his firearm returned, and no police report was generated.
Following the incident, the Detroit Police Department submitted a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for Williams, who now faces potential charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle, according to WXYZ.
Williams’ attorney indicated that both men were cooperative during the stop and stressed that the firearms were legally registered. The Lions released a statement acknowledging the incident and confirmed they are keeping the league updated as the investigation progresses.
“Jameson informed us 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,” the Detroit Lions said in a statement to WXYZ. “We understand he was released without incident or citation.
We are now aware that the Detroit Police Department is revisiting the matter. Jameson has retained an attorney, and we will not comment further out of respect for the legal process.”