The career of a Florida principal is up in the air after a simple traffic stop resulted in him in hand cuffs. It all started on Tuesday, Jan. 7 when a state trooper pulled over a Kia Stinger after noticing the vehicle had an altered license plate and tinted windows, according to CBS News.
When the officer approached the driver side of the Kia, he asked the driver, Karlton Odell Johnson, 58, to roll down his window and present his driver’s license and registration. But instead of simply following orders, Johnson allegedly proceeded to tell a story that would land him in jail.
According to CBS, Johnson allegedly opened up a black wallet with a gold star inside of it and told the trooper “I’m an officer, I am an officer.” The state trooper eventually asked the man which agency he served after Johnson continuously told him he was a “deputy.”
“I am one of you, you hear me? I am one of you,” Johnson allegedly said. “I thought we treat each other better.”
The 58-year-old continued claiming he was “a reserve deputy and that he was Shaquille O’Neal’s cousin,” according to the arrest documents, but it didn’t take long for the state trooper to learn the truth.
The trooper asked Johnson whether he was a full-time deputy or sworn officer, and Johnson allegedly responded “no” to both questions. After contacting the Broward Sheriff’s Department to confirm Johnson’s claims, the state trooper realized the badge Johnson was initially presented stated the word “honorary” above the star. From there, Johnson was detained and taken into custody.
In truth, the 58-year-old has no relation to the Broward Sheriff’s Office— or to Shaquille O’Neal for that matter. Johnson was, however, the acting principal of the Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach at the time of his arrest, according to authorities.
Johnson previously served as the principal for Blanche Ely High School. He also was named one of South Florida’s 50 Most Powerful and Influential Leaders in 2024, and in 2016, he was named “Principal of the Year” by the school district, according to WSVN.
Now, he’s facing serious charges for allegedly impersonating a police officer. Johnson appeared in court on Wednesday morning, where a judge set his bond at $2,500, according to WSVN.
In response to Johnson’s arrest, the Broward Country Public School district released a statement to CBS saying “The employee in question will be reassigned pending the outcome of the law enforcement investigation. In the interim, the assistant principal will assume responsibility for the school to ensure continuity of leadership and operations.”
