Remember that epic moment in 2023 when Shaq turned a routine traffic stop into the NBA on TNT intro? The officials caught Big Diesel speeding and turned it into a teaching + entertaining moment through a PSA with the Houston cop. Whoever thought they could pull a similar move thought wrong. A Florida native apparently threw in Shaquille O’Neal’s name to get out of a ticket. However, the situation went downhill and the person’s relationship with Shaq came into the limelight.

Dr. Karlton Odell Johnson, a school principal in South Florida, got arrested and later bonded out of jail this week for impersonating a police officer. The incident went down on Tuesday at the Florida Turnpike. Florida Highway Patrol troopers pulled him over when the 58-year-old made a few claims. He alleged, “he was a reserve deputy and that he was Shaquille O’Neal’s cousin.” He supposedly showed a badge with ‘honorary’ inscribed over it.

He’s not worked with law enforcement and Broward Sheriff’s Office confirmed the same. But what hasn’t been verifiable is his connection to Shaquille O’Neal. Whether he’s truly Shaq’s cousin or not, he does have some personal connection to the O’Neal family.

Internet sleuths quickly discovered Dr. Johnson’s Facebook page, which has sporadic activity. He has several posts connected to or with Shaq himself.

Very recently, he hyped Lucille O’Neal’s 2024 book, While I have your attention, and shared his sightings of Shaq-A-Licious XL Gummies. He also had sporadic posts about Me’Arah O’Neal committing to the Gators.

The one that stands out is a post on Shaq’s birthday on March 6, 2024. Johnson shared various pictures with O’Neal that span several years, including his playing career. Johnson was even there when Shaq wore the long coats and derby hats.

“Happy Birthday Bro, life changes moments, thank God you have never Change! Keep looking out for those who are less fortunate and allow God to continue blessing you and your surroundings,” Johnson wrote then. Moreover, he also hung around Shaquille O’Neal and his entourage in Orlando in February 2024. He was close enough to film Shaq lip-sync to music in the club then and was also in the Kia Center witnessing the jersey retirement.

Another time, he shared pictures of hanging out with his ‘niece’ and ‘nephew’, Me’Arah and Shaqir, while they came to Houston. He also spent time with Taahirah at a Big Chicken in Houston.

It’s no outright confirmation of a familial relation, but they have some long history there. It didn’t save Johnson from the law, though.

Shaquille O’Neal connection didn’t help Karlton Johnson

While his exact connection to Shaquille O’Neal couldn’t come to light, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office was quick to debunk their connection to him. Karlton Johnson is the principal at Cypress Run Education Center in Pompano Beach and previously served as the principal of another high school.

Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo and Caron Butler also visited his school to meet the students. He became the Principal of the Year in 2016. The graduation rate at his school skyrocketed, and he became a keynote speaker at different events. In addition, he became popular in the local community.

However, officials caught Johnson with an altered license plate when he claimed to be a reserve officer. The badge he had was determined to be unofficial. After putting in detention for impersonating law enforcement, which is a felony, the officials posted a bond of $2,500. The school district stated Johnson was reassigned pending the investigation.

When media caught up with him as he left the county jail on Wednesday afternoon, he declined questions seeking confirmation.

Note: Shaquille O’Neal really is an auxiliary deputy for the Broward County Sheriff’s Office and has done many youth initiatives through them. He’s also a voluntary officer in Los Angeles and Atlanta. Whether he has family in that same line remains unclear.