Detroit police are investigating why the Lions WR escaped arrest after a gun was found in the car

DETROIT (WXYZ) — Two weeks before he was suspended for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams was nearly arrested by Detroit police because a gun was found in a vehicle .

Because of 7 News Detroit's questions, the department is now investigating why Williams was released from custody after officials planned to take him to prison.

Watch the story in the video player above or below

Detroit police are investigating why Lions WR Jameson Williams avoided arrest after a gun was found in the car

The star wide receiver came into contact with police after midnight on Oct. 8 when police stopped a vehicle driven by Williams' brother near the corner of Connor and Jefferson avenues. According to police, the vehicle was stopped for speeding.

When questioned by an officer, Williams' brother revealed that there were two guns in the car: the first was in the back seat, while the second was under Williams' seat, according to police.

Officers discovered the gun in the back seat was registered to William's brother, who had a concealed pistol license (CPL).

Although the gun was registered to him under Williams' seat, he did not have a CPL.

The officer concluded that this was a problem and informed Williams that he was being taken into custody for carrying a concealed weapon.

Watch the interaction between the officer, Williams and Williams' brother in the video below

The video shows the interaction between Detroit police officer and Lions defenseman Jameson Williams

It is clear from the body camera footage that the officer does not know who Williams is. But the wide receiver kept reminding him.

“I play for the Lions, bro. “I’m Jameson Williams,” he once said.

Minutes later he said, “Bro, I play for the Detroit Lions.”

Minutes later he said again, “Bro, I play for the Lions!”

The officer told Williams that his position had no bearing on whether he would be arrested.

At one point during the stop, Williams' brother told police that the gun was his. But Williams later admitted the gun was his.

“I got the gun for protection,” Williams said. “Do you know where I live? Detroit!”

Watch the video below of the officer holding Williams and speaking to him

The video shows a Detroit police officer arresting Jameson Williams

Williams was handcuffed and placed in the back seat of the patrol car. In an interview Monday, Detroit Police Commander Michael McGinnis supported the officer's actions.

“I believe there was probable cause for the arrest and he was detained by the patrol officer,” McGinnis said. “For this reason, he should have been taken to the Detroit Detention Center and processed there.”

But Williams was not sent to prison. Instead, a supervisor was called to the scene of the accident. The ministry says this is not unusual during a high-profile stop and is a precautionary measure to ensure guidelines are followed in cases that could generate media coverage.

Within minutes, a sergeant arrived on the scene.

Unlike the responding officers, the sergeant was a Lions fan and immediately recognized Williams' name. Body camera footage also showed that the sergeant's cellphone background had the Lions logo on it.

Over the next 30 minutes, the sergeant made a series of phone calls with higher-ranking officers, trying to determine whether Williams needed to be arrested or whether the driver's CPL covered both his and Williams' weapons.

At one point, the sergeant is seen leaning toward one of the arresting officers and whispering, “I'm so mad at both of you.”

Commander McGinnis, who reviewed the body camera footage, said he believed the sergeant referred to the two arrested officers in a “jovial manner.”

After consulting with several superiors, the sergeant makes two more phone calls and it appears Williams will soon be taken to prison.

“Be careful, he’s coming. You may want to make special arrangements,” the sergeant said in a phone call.

“He will claim to be carrying a concealed weapon,” he says in another.

But minutes later everything seemed to change. The sergeant spoke with a lieutenant who said Williams should be released from custody. The lieutenant's side cannot be heard.

“Okay. Fine. Is it good to let him go?” the sergeant asks before hanging up. “You're a (expletive) hero. Thank you very much.”

Williams' handcuffs were removed, his gun was returned, no police report was written and no search request was filed.

Prompted by questions from 7 News Detroit, Detroit police launched an internal investigation into the stop and the decision not to arrest the Lions wide receiver.

“(Chief James White) was very unhappy about the totality of the circumstances here. I would even go so far as to say he was angry,” Commander McGinnis said.

Late last week, DPD filed a search request with the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office. Williams is charged with carrying a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle.

“I want to know whether the fact that this person was a Detroit Lions player played a role in the decision-making?” McGinnis asked.

7 News Detroit first asked questions about the traffic stop earlier this month. At the time, a deputy chief told 7 Investigator Ross Jones that only one gun was found in the car; He made no mention of a second gun under Williams' seat.

When Chief James White learned of the second weapon, he agreed to share portions of the body camera video with 7 News Detroit to correct the record and ordered an internal affairs investigation.

Detroit police officials say the arresting officers behaved properly during the stop and stand by their actions.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy's office says it is still reviewing the warrant application.

Williams' attorney, Todd Flood, released a statement to 7 News Detroit that read: “On October 8, my clients were stopped for a suspected traffic violation. During the stop, my clients behaved both cooperatively and respectfully towards the police officers. The two pistols found in the vehicle were both registered and the driver in the vehicle had the appropriate identification to carry them. We have cooperated with law enforcement and will continue to do so.

The Detroit Lions released a statement to 7 News Detroit on Tuesday. It says:

“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. We believe he was released without incident or citation. Now the time has come.” It is our understanding that the Detroit Police Department is reviewing the matter. Jameson has retained an attorney and we will have no further comment out of respect for the legal process.

Contact 7 Investigator Ross Jones at [email protected] or (248) 827-9466.