There are several notable people named Eddie Johnson, and at least two of them have had run-ins with the law.
Edward Lee Johnson Jr., also known as Fast Eddie, was an NBA All-Star who played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1987. After being banned from the league in 1987 for excessive drug use, he had several run-ins with the law, including convictions for burglary, battery, robbery, and drug-related offenses. In 2006, he was arrested for the rape of an 8-year-old girl and was later sentenced to life in prison.
Another Eddie Johnson, Edward Arnet Johnson, was a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and the Greek Basket League. In 2006, he was mistaken for Edward Lee Johnson Jr. following the latter's arrest and conviction for sexual assault of a minor. This case of mistaken identity caused significant distress to Edward Arnet Johnson, who expressed concern about the potential damage to his reputation.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Edward Lee Johnson Jr. |
Alias | Fast Eddie |
Profession | NBA All-Star |
Crime Committed | Sexual assault of a minor and burglary |
Convictions | Burglary, battery, robbery, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest |
Sentence | Life imprisonment |
Status | Deceased |
What You'll Learn
Did Eddie Johnson rape a minor?
Edward Lee Johnson Jr., also known as "Fast Eddie", was a former NBA All-Star who played for the Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1987. Johnson's career was marred by off-court issues stemming from his drug abuse, which ultimately led to his suspension and ban from the NBA in 1987. After his basketball career ended, Johnson's life spiralled out of control, and he was arrested and convicted for various crimes, including burglary, battery, robbery, drug possession, and assault.
In August 2006, Johnson committed an even more heinous crime: the rape of an 8-year-old minor. He entered an apartment in Florida's Parkside Garden Apartments uninvited and found an 8-year-old girl babysitting her three younger brothers. He ordered one of the brothers to lock the front door and then instructed the girl to go to her bedroom, where he pulled down her shorts, fondled her, and raped her. Johnson fled the scene after the assault, but was arrested and charged with the crime. At the time of the attack on the 8-year-old girl, Johnson was already awaiting trial for the rape of a 25-year-old woman a few weeks earlier.
On October 28, 2008, Johnson was found guilty of "sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12". He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Johnson served his sentence at the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Florida until his death in 2020.
The case of Eddie Johnson highlights the tragic consequences of drug abuse and the devastating impact of sexual assault on minors. It also underscores the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions, regardless of their status or reputation.
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Was Eddie Johnson framed by the police?
In 2006, Eddie Johnson, a former Chicago Police Department superintendent, was mistaken for Edward "Fast Eddie" Johnson, a former NBA player, when the latter was arrested on suspicion of sexual assault of a minor and burglary. While Eddie Johnson was not involved in this case, the mix-up led to his picture being published across various news outlets, creating a scandal and potentially tarnishing his reputation.
The case of mistaken identity involving Eddie Johnson and "Fast Eddie" Johnson brings up questions of police misconduct and the potential for individuals to be framed or falsely accused. While it is unclear if "Fast Eddie" Johnson was framed by the police in his case, there have been instances of individuals being wrongfully convicted and later proven innocent, with some evidence suggesting police involvement in framing them.
One such case is that of Edward Earl Johnson, who was convicted and executed for the murder of a policeman and the sexual assault of a 69-year-old woman in Mississippi in 1979. Johnson maintained his innocence throughout his time on death row, and his case gained international attention through the BBC documentary "Fourteen Days in May," which followed the last two weeks of his life. During interviews, Johnson claimed that his confession was forced by police who threatened to shoot him in a deserted wood. Additionally, the sexual assault victim pointed to another individual during the police lineup, indicating that Johnson might not have been the perpetrator.
After Johnson's execution, a follow-up documentary by British lawyer Clive Stafford Smith claimed to provide conclusive proof of Johnson's innocence and alleged that he had been framed by the police. Don Cabana, the warden of Parchman Prison Farm following Johnson's execution, also spoke out against the death penalty, believing that an innocent man had been put to death. While Johnson's case is not directly linked to Eddie Johnson's situation, it highlights the potential for police misconduct and the serious consequences that can result from it.
In summary, while there is no direct evidence that Eddie Johnson was framed by the police, the mix-up with "Fast Eddie" Johnson and cases like that of Edward Earl Johnson underscore the importance of accurate reporting and investigations to ensure that individuals are not wrongfully accused or convicted.
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Did Eddie Johnson mislead the public?
In 2020, Eddie Johnson, the former Chicago Police Superintendent, was accused of misleading the public and Mayor Lori Lightfoot about an incident where he was found asleep in his parked car. Johnson initially blamed the incident on his failure to take his blood pressure medication, but Lightfoot later stated that Johnson had told her he had consumed "a couple of drinks with dinner" that night.
Published reports claimed that Johnson had spent hours drinking at a bar with a woman from his security detail. After dropping the woman off, he attempted to drive home but was found asleep at the wheel of his car, which was still running, just blocks from his house. Lightfoot fired Johnson, stating that he had lied to her and intentionally misled the public about the situation.
Bodycam footage, 911 calls, and other documents related to the incident were released by the city of Chicago following a lawsuit filed by the Better Government Association (BGA). The BGA argued that the city was in violation of state open records laws and that the withholding of information was unjustified. The footage shows police officers approaching Johnson's parked vehicle and asking if he is alright. Johnson appears disoriented, and when asked for identification, he shows his ID to the officers. The officers then walk away without conducting any sobriety tests or asking Johnson to exit his vehicle.
The situation and the changing storylines had a significant impact on Johnson's career, ultimately leading to his firing as superintendent. While Johnson claimed that the incident was due to a medication change, Lightfoot's statement about his alcohol consumption and the reports of him spending hours drinking at a bar contradicted his initial explanation. This discrepancy between Johnson's statements and the reports from Lightfoot and the media led to accusations of misleading the public.
In summary, Eddie Johnson, the former Chicago Police Superintendent, was accused of misleading the public and Mayor Lori Lightfoot about an incident where he was found asleep in his car. While Johnson initially blamed it on medication, reports suggested he had been drinking. Lightfoot fired him for lying and intentionally misleading the public. The release of bodycam footage and other documents added fuel to the accusations, despite the lack of sobriety tests conducted at the scene. The incident and its aftermath had a significant impact on Johnson's career and led to his dismissal as superintendent.
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Did Eddie Johnson break the law by drinking and driving?
Eddie Johnson, the former police superintendent of Chicago, was found asleep in his parked car in October 2019. The incident sparked a back-and-forth between Johnson and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, which ultimately led to the mayor firing Johnson. Initially, Johnson blamed the incident on his failure to take his blood pressure medication. However, Lightfoot later stated that Johnson told her he had consumed "a couple of drinks with dinner" that night.
After dropping a woman off at her home, Johnson attempted to drive to his house in the Bridgeport neighborhood. He was found asleep at the wheel of his black Chevrolet Tahoe, which was still running, about half-past midnight just blocks from his house. Lightfoot fired Johnson for intentionally misleading her and the public about the situation, stating that he had spent hours drinking at a bar with a woman he had promoted to his security detail.
While Johnson's blood alcohol level was not made public, driving under the influence of alcohol is illegal in all states in the US. The legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) is 0.08% in Illinois, and penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) can include fines, jail time, and license suspension. Therefore, if Johnson's BAC exceeded the legal limit, he would have been breaking the law by drinking and driving.
In addition to the potential legal consequences, drinking and driving is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious accidents and injuries. As a public official and a role model, Johnson's behavior was particularly irresponsible and set a poor example for the community.
In conclusion, while we cannot be certain of Eddie Johnson's blood alcohol level at the time of the incident, it is likely that he was breaking the law by drinking and driving. His actions had significant repercussions, both for himself and for the public perception of law enforcement. This incident highlights the importance of responsible drinking and adherence to legal standards, especially for those in positions of power.
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Did Eddie Johnson break the law by taking drugs?
There are two people named Eddie Johnson with a history of drug use.
Edward Lee "Fast Eddie" Johnson
Edward Lee Johnson, also known as "Fast Eddie", was an NBA All-Star for the Atlanta Hawks from 1977 to 1987. Johnson was banned from the basketball league in 1987 for excessive drug use. Following his ban, Johnson had several run-ins with the law, including convictions for burglary, battery, robbery, marijuana possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.
In August 2006, Johnson was arrested for the rape of an 8-year-old girl and was awaiting trial for the rape of a 25-year-old woman just weeks prior. In 2008, Johnson was convicted of "sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 and lewd and lascivious molestation of a child under the age of 12". He was sentenced to life in prison without parole and is currently serving his sentence in the Santa Rosa Correctional Institution in Florida.
Edward Arnet Johnson
Edward Arnet Johnson is an American former professional basketball player who spent 17 seasons in the NBA. In 2006, Edward Arnet Johnson was mistaken for Edward Lee "Fast Eddie" Johnson when the latter was arrested for sexual assault and burglary. This case of mistaken identity occurred in multiple media reports, causing significant distress to Edward Arnet Johnson, who expressed concern about the potential damage to his reputation.
To answer the question, Edward Lee "Fast Eddie" Johnson broke the law by possessing and using drugs, in addition to his other convictions. On the other hand, Edward Arnet Johnson was a victim of mistaken identity and was not involved in any drug-related incidents.
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Frequently asked questions
Eddie Johnson, the former Chicago Police Superintendent, was sued for sexual assault and harassment by a police officer who was once a member of his security detail. Johnson was also found asleep in his parked car on the South Side, which led to his firing by Mayor Lori Lightfoot.
Officer Cynthia Donald accused Johnson of forcing her to perform sex acts and sending unsolicited lewd photos while he was her boss. She also claimed that he admitted to damaging or destroying evidence on his cellphone.
I cannot find a clear outcome of the lawsuit. However, Johnson denied the allegations, calling them "patently false" and "egregiously dehumanizing towards true victims".
Yes, Johnson was fired by Mayor Lori Lightfoot for intentionally misleading her and the public about the incident where he was found asleep in his car.
Yes. Five Chicago Police officers, including Deering District Cmdr. Don Jerome, faced suspensions for covering up for Johnson.