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The Lions' Jameson William escaped arrest after a gun was found in the car

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Police are investigating why Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was never arrested after he was found with a concealed weapon during a traffic stop, according to a report from WXYZ.

The traffic stop reportedly took place after midnight on Oct. 8, just two weeks before his two-game suspension for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances.

Officers stopped a car that Williams' brother was driving for speeding near Connor and Jefferson avenues in Detroit, police told Channel 7. During the encounter, his brother told police there were two guns in the vehicle – one registered to him and located in the back seat, while the other, registered to Williams, was found under the football player's seat.

While Williams' brother had a concealed pistol license (CPL), Williams himself did not have one.

Williams was then told by police that he would be taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon. Body camera footage showed Williams repeatedly identifying himself and saying, “I play for the Lions, bro,” but the officer insisted that Williams' status had no bearing on his arrest decision.

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After he was handcuffed and placed in a patrol car, a supervisor was called to the scene. When a sergeant arrived, he quickly recognized Williams and subsequently made several phone calls to higher-ranking officers.

At first it appeared that Williams would be taken to prison, but after further discussions the sergeant was apparently ordered to release him from custody.

“You are a (expletive) hero. “Thank you very much,” the sergeant can be heard saying while speaking on the phone in the footage obtained by Channel 7. Williams was released, his gun was returned and no police report was filed.

In light of the incident, the Detroit Police Department filed an arrest warrant request with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office against Williams, who could now face charges of carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle, according to the WXYZ report.

Williams' attorney said both men were cooperative during the traffic stop and emphasized that the firearms were legally registered, the report said. The Lions issued a statement acknowledging the incident and confirming they are keeping the league updated as the investigation progresses.

“Jameson immediately brought to our attention that he was a passenger in a routine traffic stop on October 8th. We have discussed the incident with him and have kept the league updated on everything we know,” the Detroit Lions said in a statement to WXYZ. “We believe he was released without incident or citation. We now expect the Detroit Police Department to review the matter. Jameson has retained an attorney and we will have no further comment out of respect for the legal process.”

Editor's note: This story has been updated to correct an inaccuracy.

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