Misinformation about Jameson Williams’ near arrest prompted DPD to open an investigation

DETROIT (WXYZ) — The internal investigation into the near-arrest of Detroit Lions star Jameson Williams was opened amid concerns that then-Police Chief James White was misled about a gun found under Williams’ seat.

The investigation, now in its third week, is examining whether regulators deliberately withheld information about the gun registered to Williams, who did not have a concealed pistol permit, and whether his status as an athlete influenced the decision not to arrest him.

The department said Thursday that while the investigation is ongoing, misconduct has already been discovered.

“Preliminary, the department has identified several disruptions that occurred the evening of the traffic stop. Any violations of DPD policy, including the actions of involved supervisors, will be addressed,” a department spokesperson said.

Related video: Detroit police investigate why Detroit Lions WR Jameson Williams avoided arrest after gun found in car

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

“It’s something I would like to wrap up here very quickly,” White said in an interview last Thursday, promising the department would share the findings, whatever they were, once the investigation is complete.

Sources repeatedly say White was told the only gun found was in the backseat of the vehicle driven by Williams’ brother.

But a subsequent review of police body camera footage revealed that this was not true: that a second gun – registered to Williams – was found under the Lions’ wide receiver seat, and that he did not have a CPL.

“Given that there were two guns and one of the guns was within the wingspan of the passenger and that gun is registered to the passenger, that changes the circumstances,” Cmdr. Michael McGinnis, who is leading the investigation, in an interview last month.

Related video: Body camera video shows interaction between Detroit police officer and Williams

Video shows Detroit police officer interacting with Lions WR Jameson Williams

Williams was originally placed in handcuffs by the officer who pulled him over, who planned to take him to the Detroit Detention Center. But after a sergeant was called to the scene and called supervisors, the decision was made to release Williams and return his gun.

No charges have been filed and no warrant has been filed with the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. After learning about the second gun on Oct. 23, White ordered a warrant be filed.

Williams’ attorney, Todd Flood, says Williams’ brother had a CPL that would have covered the Lions’ wide receiver weapon.

“I give White and McGinnis credit that we need to investigate this,” said Steve Dolunt, a former DPD assistant chief who worked with the department for 31 years. “Because if (they) were deliberately misled, (they) have a problem with this officer or officers or supervisors or whatever.”

Dolunt says if he had pulled over Williams and his brother that night, he would have arrested the wide receiver because his gun was found under his seat and he did not have a CPL.

‘If it was Joe Blow on the street, I would have locked him up. “I brought him in,” he said.

That was the initial decision the officer made at the scene, which McGinnis said was correct.

Related video: Body camera video shows Detroit police officer Jameson Williams detaining

Video shows a Detroit police officer holding Jameson Williams

During the stop, Williams announced that he was a member of the Detroit Lions, and his brother called from the front seat over the loudspeaker.

“I have the Detroit Lions head security supervisor here on the phone. He’s trying to see what’s going on, why y’all are trying to do that,” Williams’ brother can be heard saying. He did not provide the man’s name.

The sergeant said he had no interest in talking to the Lions employee.

“If they called, I’m not surprised. Because when I was there, people were calling all the time,” Dolunt said.

“And does that work?” asked Channel 7’s Ross Jones.

“That depends,” Dolunt said. “It depends.”

It’s not clear tonight whether the calls made any difference in the way Williams was treated, but it is one of the questions raised by internal affairs.

“We encourage our players to immediately notify our security team if they interact with law enforcement,” a Lions spokesperson said in a statement. “This ensures that we get the information directly from them and can communicate any issues with the league in a timely and appropriate manner.”

Investigators also want to know who called supervisors on the scene that night that led them to release Williams.

At one point, a sergeant appears to be on a phone call and then turns off his body camera because it sounds like a conversation is about to start.

Internal Affairs wants to know who called the sergeant and why he turned off his body camera.

Once the IA investigation is over — perhaps as early as this week — Kym Worthy’s office will have to decide whether to follow through on an order filed late last month after White learned of the second gun.

While anything is possible, most legal experts tell 7 News Detroit they would be surprised if Worthy approves the misdemeanor charge.

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