People use all types of excuses to try and avoid a traffic violation.
Police officers have heard every excuse under the sun.
But Shaquille O’Neal shook his head in disbelief over how this Florida man tried to avoid going to jail.
Pulling people over for speeding and other traffic violations is a big part of most police officers’ daily routine.
When making a traffic stop, officers never know what to expect when they approach the vehicle.
In the worst scenarios, it is an armed and dangerous person.
But most of the time it is a normal citizen who made a mistake that led to a traffic stop.
No one likes getting a ticket for a traffic violation and will tell an officer anything to get out of one.
Dr. Karlton Odell Johnson is the 58-year-old acting principal of the Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach.
Johnson was named among South Florida’s 50 Most Powerful and Influential Leaders in 2024.
And in 2016, the school district awarded him its “Principal of the Year” honor.
Congratulations to Dr. Karlton Johnson of Blanche Ely High! The #BCPSCaliber Principal of the Year. pic.twitter.com/6XXyjHCDqB
— Broward Schools (@browardschools) April 2, 2016
Johnson allegedly increased the graduation rate at Blanche Ely High to 90% and turned it into an “A” school.
But Johnson has a license plate that reads “AYOORD” which recently caught the attention of the trooper and caused him to initiate a traffic stop.
The trooper noticed Johnson opening his wallet with a gold star inside as he approached the vehicle.
“I am an officer, I am an officer,” Johnson told the trooper.
When the trooper asked for his vehicle registration and license, Johnson told him that he was “one of you.”
“I am one of you, I am one of you, you hear me?” Johnson allegedly said. “I am one of you.”
According to the report, Johnson referred to himself as a deputy and said, “I thought we treat each other better.”
But that was not Johnson’s only lie.
He then told the trooper that he was related to NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal aka Shaq.
Johnson claimed he was “a reserve deputy and that he was Shaquille O’Neal’s cousin.”
Since the badge Johnson showed had “Broward Sheriff’s Office” on it, the trooper originally assumed he was a deputy.
But when the trooper contacted the Broward County Sheriff’s Office, he quickly learned that Johnson had no affiliation with the local law enforcement.
The badge had “Honorary” on it and was not an official police badge.
Johnson was arrested and is facing one count of fraudulently impersonating a police officer.
The disgraced principal refused to comment when he bonded out of jail.
But his attorney spoke briefly with reporters.
“Sometimes people, when they’re in a situation, they do things, but it’s not intended to be criminal or anything that’s improper,” Johnson’s attorney, Johnny McCray Jr., said. “I think it’s something that will work out favorably.”
“I’m confident that Mr. Johnson will not only be acquitted, I believe that he will be vindicated,” he added.
However, there was one parent who told reporters that they were not surprised to hear he impersonated an officer.
“When it comes to working with the kids, he doesn’t know how to talk to the staff, he tried to come up with a lot of things, so I’m not surprised that he’s been arrested for trying to impersonate a police officer,” one parent said.
The school district also released a statement following the arrest.
“The employee in question will be reassigned pending the outcome of the law enforcement investigation,” the statement read. “In the interim, the Assistant Principal will assume responsibility for the school to ensure continuity of leadership and operations.”
Police have heard it all, but this had to be the first time someone claimed to be Shaq’s cousin to try and avoid a ticket.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
