Broward principal claims he’s Shaquille O’Neal’s cousin while impersonating as deputy

BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 58-year-old Broward County principal was arrested Tuesday for impersonating a deputy throughout a visitors cease on the Florida Turnpike, the place he additionally claimed to be the cousin of basketball star Shaquille O’Neal, authorities confirmed.

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In keeping with an arrest report from the Florida Freeway Patrol, a trooper was stationary in a marked automobile when he noticed a grey Kia Stinger with darkish tinted home windows and an altered license plate heading southbound close to Mile Marker 54 simply after 4:30 p.m.

Authorities stated the plate, which learn “AYOORD,” raised suspicion, prompting the trooper to provoke a visitors cease.

When the trooper approached the automobile, he seen the driving force, recognized as Karlton Odell Johnson, opening a pockets with a gold star inside, in line with investigators.

Johnson then claimed, “I’m an officer; I’m an officer,” and continued to insist he was “one in every of you” when requested for his driver’s license and automobile registration, FHP wrote within the report.

Johnson additionally said, “I believed we deal with one another higher,” and referred to himself as a deputy, the report said.

Investigators stated the FHP trooper seen that Johnson was displaying a badge for the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace, main him to initially consider that Johnson was a deputy.

Nevertheless, after additional questioning, authorities stated Johnson admitted he was not a full-time deputy and said he was a reserve deputy and associated to basketball participant Shaquille O’Neal.

The trooper then contacted the Broward Sheriff’s Workplace to confirm Johnson’s claims, solely to find that Johnson was not affiliated with the company in any official capability, in line with the report.

Authorities stated the badge Johnson introduced was labeled “Honorary” and was not an official regulation enforcement badge.

Moreover, BSO officers confirmed that Johnson didn’t have a CCN quantity, which is assigned to all present and former regulation enforcement personnel, the report said.

Jail information present Johnson is dealing with one rely of fraudulently impersonating a police officer.

As of Wednesday, he’s being held on the Broward Major Jail, the place his bond was listed as “pending.”

Beneath is the work historical past for Johnson, supplied by the Broward College district’s human assets division:

• 7-01-2022 – 6-30-2023 – Director, CTACE, Profession, Technical & Grownup/Group Schooling

• 7-01-2008 – 6-30-2022 – Principal, Blanche Ely Excessive

• 9-06-2005 – 6-30-2008 – Assistant Principal, Dillard Excessive

• 7-11-2005 – 9-05-2005 – Assistant Principal, Monarch Excessive

• 7-20-2004 – 7-10-2005 – Appearing/Interim Assistant Principal, Blanche Ely Excessive

John J. Sullivan, Chief Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer of Broward County Public Faculties launched the next assertion to Native 10 Information in regard to Johnson’s employment, which you’ll be able to learn right here:

“The worker in query will likely be reassigned pending the end result of the regulation enforcement investigation. Within the interim, the assistant principal will assume duty for the varsity to make sure continuity of management and operations.”