A day after news surfaced about Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams’ near-arrest, a local criminal defense attorney and a Detroit police commissioner argue that “the average Detroiter would have been arrested” in a similar situation.
Williams was stopped by police after midnight on October 8 when officers pulled over a vehicle driven by his brother at the intersection of Conner Street and Jefferson Avenue. According to police, the vehicle was pulled over for speeding.
During the stop, Williams’ brother informed the officers that there were two guns in the car: one in the back seat and the other under Williams’ seat.
Officers determined that the gun in the back seat belonged to Williams’ brother, who holds a concealed pistol license (CPL). The second gun, found under Williams’ seat, was registered to him, but he did not possess a CPL. Although Williams was initially handcuffed, a sergeant’s intervention led to his release, and his gun was returned.
Criminal defense attorney Anjali Prasad, who has experience both prosecuting and defending citizens in concealed weapon cases, commented, “If I’m pulled over with a gun under my seat without a license, I’m getting charged—and I’m going to jail that night.” Prasad, who previously worked for the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit, highlighted that Michigan law requires a CPL to carry a concealed pistol, a permit she believes is relatively easy to obtain.
“What if there’s an accident, or a road rage incident?” Prasad asked, noting the importance of showing responsibility when carrying a firearm in public. “As a state, we can feel a bit more at ease knowing that people driving around with guns have completed training and a background check.”
Williams’ attorney, Todd Flood, argued that since Williams’ brother held a CPL, it should apply to Williams’ gun as well, thus making it legal for him to have the firearm in the vehicle.
Detroit Police Commissioner Ricardo Moore, who oversees the department, expressed satisfaction that an internal investigation was initiated. “The average Detroiter would have been arrested,” Moore said, emphasizing the routine nature of firearm-related arrests in the city. “This situation is different.”
Late last week, the Detroit Police Department submitted a warrant request to the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office. At a Wednesday press conference, prosecutor Kym Worthy and police chief James White commented on the case.
“We have just received the warrant request and will review it as we would with any case to determine if charges are warranted,” Worthy stated, noting that no decision had been made.
Chief White confirmed an internal affairs investigation is ongoing but refrained from additional comments.
As part of the department’s review, Detroit Police obtained Williams’ gun. Meanwhile, the NFL issued a statement saying that the Lions had informed the league of the incident, with no further comments at this time.
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