BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – A criminal charge has been dropped against a Broward County principal who was arrested in January on accusations that he impersonated a deputy.
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A court document shows the charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer was dropped on Tuesday.
In January, Local 10 News obtained dashcam video footage of the moments when authorities said the 58-year-old Broward County principal was arrested for impersonating a deputy during a traffic stop on Florida’s Turnpike.
According to an arrest report from the Florida Highway Patrol, a trooper stationed in a marked vehicle observed a gray Kia Stinger with dark tinted windows and an altered license plate heading south near Mile Marker 54 shortly after 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 7.
Authorities said the plate, reading “AYOORD,” along with the dark tints on the car, raised suspicion and prompted the trooper to initiate a traffic stop.
When the trooper approached the vehicle, the driver, identified as Karlton Odell Johnson, opened a wallet displaying a gold star, investigators said.
Dashcam video obtained by Local 10 News shows Johnson telling the trooper, “I am an officer; I am an officer,” and insisting he was “one of you” when asked for his driver’s license and vehicle registration.
Johnson was also heard saying, “I thought we treat each other better,” while referring to himself as a deputy.
Investigators said the trooper initially believed Johnson’s claim after observing a Broward Sheriff’s Office badge in Johnson’s possession.
However, authorities said further questioning revealed Johnson had no affiliation with any type of position in law enforcement.
Johnson also claimed to be a reserve deputy and said he was related to basketball player Shaquille O’Neal, according to investigators.
The trooper contacted BSO to verify Johnson’s statements and discovered he was not affiliated with the agency, according to an FHP report.
Authorities said the badge Johnson presented was labeled “Honorary” and that he was not a certified law enforcement officer.
BSO officials also confirmed Johnson did not have a CCN number, which is assigned to all current and former law enforcement personnel, according to the report.
Johnson, who was named Broward County’s Principal of the Year while working at Blanche Ely High School in Pompano Beach, has an extensive career in education. He is currently the principal of the Cypress Run Education Center.
His attorney, Johnny McCray Jr., addressed reporters in January after Johnson was released on bail.
“Sometimes when people know people, they say, ‘Well, look…I’m a friend of this person, or that person’ -- hopefully they’ll get a break. That’s not illegal,” McCray said. “I think everything was just a mix-up … it was confusion. I think it’s something that’ll work out favorably.”
According to a close-out memo obtained Thursday by Local 10 News, “Courts have consistently held that verbal claims alone are insufficient to support a conviction.”
It also asserts that in another case, “the court ruled that merely pretending to be an officer without performing law enforcement duties does not violate the statute.”
The Broward County School District confirmed in January that Johnson had been reassigned pending the outcome of the investigation.
A spokeswoman for the district said Thursday that “the matter is still under review” and the superintendent would be deciding later this week whether to reinstate Johnson at the school.
CLOSEOUT MEMO FOR KARLTON ODELL JOHNSON:
