Man With Murder Conviction Charged After Rochester Traffic Stop

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A traffic stop in Rochester on Tuesday has resulted in felony charges against a Rochester man who was sent to prison eight years ago after being convicted of murder in connection with a botched drug-related robbery in the Twin Cities.

Traffic Stop Leads to Felony Charges

A criminal complaint filed in Olmsted County District Court on Thursday charges 29-year-old Edward Lamont Williams with illegal possession of a firearm by a person convicted of a crime of violence, receiving stolen property, and a misdemeanor charge involving possession of an open cannabis package in a motor vehicle. He is scheduled to make his first court appearance on the charges Friday.

Suspicious Behavior and Suspended License Led to Traffic Stop

According to the court document, a Rochester police officer initiated a traffic stop in the 1600 block of Civic Center Drive Northwest after observing Williams acting suspiciously at a nearby convenience store and then driving away in a vehicle. The arresting officer then ran a check on the vehicle's license plate and learned it was registered to Williams and indicated that his driver's license had been suspended.

Rochester police department squad vehicle

Burnt Marijuana "Roaches" in Ashtray

After stopping the vehicle, the criminal complaint says the officer detected the smell of burnt and fresh marijuana in the vehicle. When questioned, Williams admitted smoking marijuana prior to the contact with the officer and showed the officer multiple burnt marijuana "roaches" in the vehicle's ashtray.

Glock with Extended Magazine Found in Vehicle

The charging document says the officer then notified Williams that the vehicle would be searched due to suspected violations of Minnesota's marijuana transportation requirements. The criminal complaint says the search resulted in the discovery of approximately 140 grams of marijuana and a Glock handgun with an extended magazine that had been reported stolen out of Roseville.

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The court document also states that, after he was informed that the vehicle was going to be searched, Williams became increasingly hostile and confrontational. The officers at the scene reported that Williams began recording them with his cell phone and positioned the phone's camera within a couple of inches of their faces.

Previously Convicted of 2nd-Degree Murder

Minnesota court records indicate that Williams was convicted of second-degree murder in 2018 and was sentenced to 141 months in prison. Court documents say his conviction was tied to his involvement in a scheme to rob a drug dealer of three pounds of marijuana that led to a fatal shooting in a St. Paul neighborhood on the night of May 9, 2017.

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Aggravated Robbery Conviction

Williams was also previously convicted of first-degree aggravated robbery. In that case, he was accused of holding a gun to another person's head while robbing the victim of his cell phone. Court records indicate the robbery occurred on the night of November 18, 2016.