CHARLESTON, W.Va. — “A3” is back in police custody.
After a night of searching, Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper reported Andre “A3” Williamson, 29, who allegedly cut his home confinement bracelet and took off on Wednesday, was arrested again in Malden on Thursday morning.
“I consider him to be probably the most dangerous criminal that we have in Charleston,” said Charleston Police Chief Steve Cooper on Thursday’s “580-LIVE with Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.”
All of Williamson’s belongings were reportedly gone.
“He may have left the area again,” Cooper said prior to his arrest.
Williamson was previously arrested in Parkersburg in late August on charges of possession of crack cocaine and being a felon in possession of a gun.
A warrant for his arrest had been issued in Charleston in May.
Cooper said Williamson’s bond was lowered from $300,000 allowing him to be released on home confinement despite objections from the Kanawha County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
In the past, Williamson has been convicted of multiple criminal charges and was accused of others including murder and attempted murder.
“He’s got this history of violence,” Chief Cooper said. “He’s been convicted of gun violence in the past. He was actually charged with murder in 2005. A witness backed out of testifying in that trial and they had to let him go.”
Cooper said Williamson has threatened law enforcement officers as well.
His arrest came “after a struggle,” according to Cooper.
Charleston Mayor Danny Jones said Thursday afternoon Williamson should not have been on home confinement at all.
“It was wrong to let him out, and it could have gotten somebody killed,” he said.