Former Broward ‘Principal of the Year' arrested for allegedly impersonating police

A longtime Broward principal who was once named the county's "Principal of the Year" has been arrested for allegedly impersonating police.

Karlton Johnson, 58, was arrested Tuesday by the Florida Highway Patrol on a charge of impersonating a law enforcement officer, Broward jail records showed.

Johnson is currently the principal of Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach, according to the school's website.

He was previously principal of Blanche Ely High School, also in Pompano Beach. He had been named the county's "Principal of the Year" in 2016.

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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

According to an arrest report, Johnson was stopped by an FHP trooper while driving a Kia Stinger with an altered license plate on the Florida's Turnpike in Davie on Tuesday.

The trooper made contact with Johnson, who opened a wallet with a gold star and said "I am an officer, I am an officer," the report said.

When the trooper asked for Johnson's license, registration and insurance, Johnson replied "I am one of you, I am one of you, you hear me?" and "I thought we treat each other better," the report said.

Johnson also told the trooper "I'm a deputy" and presented the trooper with a replica Broward Sheriff's Deputy badge with the word "honorary" above the star, the report said.

Johnson said he was a reserve deputy and Shaquille O'Neal's cousin, and told the trooper he's not a full-time officer and not a sworn officer, the report said.

The trooper contacted BSO, who said Johnson isn't a deputy or reserve deputy, the report said.

Johnson appeared in court Wednesday where a judge set his bond at $2,500.

His attorney, Johnny McCray Jr., later told NBC6 that Johnson was just trying to catch a break from the trooper.

"Sometimes when people know people they say 'well look, I am a friend of this person, I am a friend of that person' and hopefully they'll get a break, that is not illegal," McCray said. "There is nothing illegal about that, but we are going to look at the police report and explore everything and we will see what happens from there."

Broward County Public Schools officials released a statement Wednesday on the arrest.

"The employee in question will be reassigned pending the outcome of the law enforcement investigation," Wednesday's statement read. "In the interim, the Assistant Principal will assume responsibility for the school to ensure continuity of leadership and operations."