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    • Police are investigating the supervisor who approved Jameson Williams' release
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    Police are investigating the supervisor who approved Jameson Williams' release

    Kathleen William Posted on

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    Stating that “no one is above the law,” Detroit police confirmed the department is investigating how a supervisor handled the near-arrest of third-year Detroit Lions manager Jameson Williams following a traffic stop on a concealed weapons charge .

    The unnamed supervisor agreed to release Williams rather than arrest him on a firearms charge. While the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office is currently reviewing a warrant application filed by Detroit police, the Oct. 8 incident was the focus of discussion in the Detroit area on Wednesday.

    A defense attorney who said he handles hundreds of such cases a year told the Free Press that prosecutors often decline charges in cases similar to Williams' and that it is common for police to give some leniency in similar incidents.

    Williams was a passenger in the vehicle that was stopped for speeding. According to a report from WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), officers found two guns in the car at the time of the stop.

    A 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 handgun 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 restrained.

    More: Why Detroit Lions receiver Jameson Williams faces felony gun charges

    More: Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams could face third NFL suspension after gun incident

    The Free Press questioned Detroit police the same day about the Oct. 8 incident, but police said, “No reports or incidents for Jameson Williams.” WXYZ-TV first reported the story Tuesday evening.

    In body camera footage released by the television station, an officer told Williams he was being taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon. In the video, Williams could be heard repeatedly identifying himself, at one point saying, “I play for the Lions, bro.”

    The officer claimed that Williams' status as a Detroit Lions player had no bearing on his decision to arrest. But when a supervisor was on scene, recognized Williams and called the department's supervisors, Williams was fired, according to Channel 7.

    In the video, this manager could be heard talking to his boss on the phone: “You are a (swearing) hero. Thank you.”

    Detroit police said they were investigating the traffic stop “in its entirety,” including the actions of the supervisor at the scene.

    “We take every investigation seriously, particularly when new allegations and facts emerge, and we are committed to acting quickly and transparently,” the ministry said in a statement.

    Detroit police have filed an arrest warrant with the district attorney's office for possible charges against Williams, Assistant Wayne County Prosecutor Maria Miller confirmed Wednesday, although no charging decision has been made yet.

    More: Detroit Lions Dan Campbell defends WR Jameson Williams: 'It's really a decision-making process'

    More: Report: Lions' Jameson Williams evaded arrest after gun was found in car, police investigate

    “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 Detroit Police Department wrote in a statement.

    But defense attorney Adam Clements said prosecutors often don't charge cases in which there is at least one concealed pistol license holder in the car, and it's not uncommon for officers to give people in Williams' situation a break.

    Clements said he has had instances where officers have told the CPL holder that any weapons in the vehicle must remain with the holder until they get home. It's also common for officers to ticket someone for improperly transporting a firearm instead of charging them, he said.

    “You have a valid CPL holder in the car. Both weapons are legally owned and registered. “I didn’t see anything unusual — there’s a lot to do about nothing,” Clements said.

    “They didn’t have to arrest him and it wasn’t an abuse of discretion not to.”

    Todd Flood, Williams' attorney, did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Flood told 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 they are keeping the league updated as the investigation progresses.

    Williams is currently serving a two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances and could face further disciplinary action from 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 them at [email protected] or on X: @andreamsahouri.

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    Kathleen William
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