Dr. Karlton Odell Johnson, a South Florida principal, has bonded out of jail after being arrested for allegedly impersonating a law enforcement officer during a traffic stop on the Florida Turnpike. The 58-year-old was seen walking out of the Broward County Jail on Wednesday afternoon, but he declined to comment on the charges he is facing.
Johnson, who is currently the principal at Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach, had previously served as the principal at Blanche Ely High School in the same city for 16 years. Florida Highway Patrol troopers arrested him on Tuesday in connection with the incident.
Johnson, who was named Principal of the Year in 2016, reportedly told a Florida Highway Patrol officer during a traffic stop that he was a deputy with the Broward Sheriff’s Office. He also claimed to be the cousin of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal. According to the arrest report, the interaction began when a trooper observed Johnson’s vehicle with an altered license plate on the Florida Turnpike near Davie, prompting a traffic stop.
During the stop, Johnson allegedly presented a badge inscribed with the word “Honorary.” The trooper reported hearing Johnson state, “I am an officer, I am an officer,” further contributing to the belief that he was impersonating a law enforcement official.
Johnson further “stated he was a reserve deputy and that he was Shaquille O’Neal’s cousin,” the report states.
It remains unclear whether Dr. Karlton Odell Johnson’s claim about being the cousin of basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal is true, although a picture posted on Facebook shows both of them posing together. The investigation revealed, however, that Johnson was not affiliated with the Broward Sheriff’s Office, and the badge he presented during the traffic stop was not an official law enforcement badge.
As a result, Johnson was arrested and charged with falsely impersonating a law enforcement officer, a felony offense. Despite this charge, Johnson had a significant record of achievement in education. He was credited with raising the graduation rate at Blanche Ely High School to 90% and transforming it into an “A” school. Additionally, he was named one of South Florida’s 50 Most Powerful and Influential Leaders in 2024 by Legacy Broward and Palm Beach.
Johnson’s attorney, Johnny McCray Jr., said this was all a misunderstanding.
“Sometimes people, when they’re in a situation, they do things, but it’s not intended to be criminal or anything that’s improper,” he said. “I think it’s something that will work out favorably.”
A spokesperson for the school district issued a statement stating that the employee in question will be reassigned pending the outcome of the law enforcement investigation. In the meantime, the Assistant Principal will assume responsibility for the school to ensure continuity of leadership and operations.
