A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officer found himself behind bars not only on Christmas Eve but faced arrest once again days later. Officer Onesiphorus Bernard Williams, 51, was first booked for allegedly pointing a gun at two individuals in a domestic setting, as detailed in records cited by WBTV.
Williams' subsequent arrest, reported by QC News, related to allegations of violating a domestic violence protective order, events which transpired a mere three days post his initial altercation.
The incumbent charges against Williams have quickly begun to surely erode public trust, an intangible yet crucial foundation for local law enforcement. According to court documents, Williams' second arrest last Friday followed his unlawful entry "onto property without Las Enforcement escort, and unbeknownst to victim." These allegations are supported by information obtained from WCCB Charlotte, which also shared that Williams managed to post a $5,000 bond and secure his release on Sunday.
Following the initial incident on Somersworth Drive in east Charlotte, the officer was charged with two counts of misdemeanor assault by pointing a gun, as reported by WBTV. Williams, who joined the CMPD in October 2022 and served in the South Division, is currently on unpaid administrative leave as an internal investigation is underway.
In response to the events surrounding Williams, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings expressed his concern, remarking, "I am deeply troubled by the arrest of Officer Williams. Our department holds itself and its officers to the highest standards of conduct, both on and off duty. This incident is a serious violation of those standards and a betrayal of the public trust we strive to earn every day." Jennings' statement was echoed across multiple local news outlets, including in a piece published by QC News. With Williams due in Mecklenburg County court on April 21, the eyes of the community are fixated upon the CMPD, awaiting the justice process to unfold and, expectantly, restore the fissures in the public trust.
