Latest news with #Johnson
New York Post
3 hours ago
- New York Post
Cocky fugitive's social media challenge to sheriff backfires in spectacular fashion
A wanted Florida man has been arrested after a series of social media posts taunting the Polk County Sheriff's Office and Sheriff Grady Judd for not being able to catch him. The Polk County Sheriff's Office and Lakeland Police Department shared a series of Facebook posts by 29-year-old Aaron Donta Johnson, who was a wanted man for violating a pretrial release condition. 'Ya'll too busy fishing dats why yall didn't catch me when I left my grandmas house today,' Johnson said in one post to Judd's department. 'Should've waited a bit longer. Yall accepted da challenge right. #GradyCan't FindMe #ComeAgainGrady.' The posts, laden with poor grammar and bad spelling, appeared to be a dig towards Judd and his department for being too late to the scene. But that did not stop Judd and his team from responding to Johnson and taking on the challenge. 'Spoken like a true man. Way to take responsibility for your actions,' the sheriff's office wrote. 'No worries – we will find you. Bet.' 4 Florida fugitive Aaron Donta Johnson smiles as police officers take a picture after his arrest on June 17, 2025. Lakeland PD/Facebook As the posts continued, Johnson told the sheriff's office, 'I done out ran yall several time. #ComeTryAgainGrady.' 'Challenge accepted,' the sheriff's office wrote. In the final post shared by the sheriff's office, Johnson responded, 'OK! I'll give you and ya crew a head start. Ya'll couldn't catch me on foot or in da car last time. Maybe you gonna need that horse or ya helicopter! #level up #ImGoneGrady.' Also accepting the challenge, unbeknownst to Johnson, was the Lakeland Police Department, after he bragged about not being caught despite having multiple felony warrants issued against him. 4 The posts, laden with poor grammar and bad spelling, appeared to be a dig towards Judd and his department for being too late to the scene. Lakeland PD/Facebook Johnson was ultimately captured by the Lakeland Police Department, who transported him to the Polk County Jail. 'What Aaron didn't know is – that we got their backs,' Lakeland Police wrote on social media. 'When Aaron Johnson jumped on Facebook and challenged the Polk County Sheriff's Office, bragging he couldn't be caught despite having multiple felony warrants, our LPD officers said, 'Challenge accepted. 'Today, that little game ended,' the police department continued. 'Our officers and detectives tracked him down and personally delivered him to the Deputies at the Polk County Jail. Nice Try, Aaron. Maybe next time…but probably not.' 4 As the posts continued, Johnson told the sheriff's office, 'I done out ran yall several time. #ComeTryAgainGrady.' Lakeland PD/Facebook Judd has become known for his no-nonsense tactics when it comes to stopping crime in Polk County. He's also become infamous for making examples of criminals – Johnson was no different. 'You done messed up A-aron!' the Polk County Sheriff's Office said, referring to a hilarious and popular bit on the sketch comedy show, 'Key & Peele.' 'You forgot all the agencies here in Polk work together…………thanks LakelandPD for the find. #GotEm #TeamworkMakesTheDreamwork #PlayStupidGamesWinStupidPrizes #AaronRanButWeCaughtHimAnyway.' 4 Johnson was ultimately captured by the Lakeland Police Department, who transported him to the Polk County Jail. Polk County Sheriff Johnson has been in and out of the Polk County Jail several times since at least 2015, on charges including drug possession, driving on a suspended license, domestic assault, burglary, and written threat to kill or injure another person, according to jail records. He now faces several charges, including violation of pretrial release conditions.
USA Today
6 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Lions legend Calvin Johnson listed in ESPN's All Quarter Century Team
Lions legend Calvin Johnson listed in ESPN's All Quarter Century Team ESPN released its All Quarter Century Team for 2000-2025 on Wednesday, including just one name from Detroit Lions history. Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson is the second receiver listed in ESPN's 53-man roster for the 21st century, behind Randy Moss and ahead of Julio Jones, Terrell Owens, Marvin Harrison, and Justin Jefferson. ESPN analysts Andrew Schatz and Seth Walder put the list together, acknowledging Johnson's short but dominant run in the NFL. "Johnson leaped over defenders en route to two 1,600-plus-yard seasons and the all-time single-season receiving yards record (1,964) in 2012," Walder said. "He ranks fourth since 2000 in yards per game behind only three current players with far fewer games played (Justin Jefferson, Puka Nacua and Ja'Marr Chase)." Walder also pointed out Megatron's individual success despite the talent around him, particularly before the arrival of Matthew Stafford. "During Detroit's infamous 0-16 season in 2008, Johnson managed 1,331 yards with Dan Orlovsky, Daunte Culpepper and Jon Kitna at quarterback." No other Lions made this particular list by ESPN, though it's not entirely surprising given how the first 20 years of this century went.
6 hours ago
- Politics
How Black conservative leaders aim to build the next generation in Washington
Seeking to harness what it sees as the momentum of the 2024 presidential election, the Black Conservative Federation is launching a two-day summit in Washington, D.C., next month aimed at bringing together Black conservatives and cultivating the next generation of leaders. The inaugural Black Conservative Federation Solution Summit will be held July 11-12, bringing together elected officials, influencers, policy experts and strategists for what organizers hope will be a series of "bold, solution-driven conversations" on the most urgent issues facing Black America today. "In this spirit of forward momentum during the Trump Administration, we are investing in the next generation of Black leaders who will define the future of our communities, our culture, and our country," Diante Johnson, the group's president and founder, said in a statement to ABC News. Johnson previously served as the Trump campaign's North Carolina regional field director in 2016 and was a member of the Black Voices for Trump Advisory Board during the 2020 campaign. The summit comes after President Donald Trump made modest gains with Black voters nationwide in 2024, especially among young Black men, a key demographic for Democrats, according to the Associated Press. Black voters made up about 1 in 10 voters nationally in the last 2024 presidential election. Although roughly 8 in 10 Black voters supported Vice President Kamala Harris, that marked a dip from the roughly 9 in 10 who backed President Joe Biden just four years earlier. Trump, meanwhile, nearly doubled his support from 2020 among Black men under the age of 45 -- with about 3 in 10 backing him in 2024, compared to just 1 in 10 in 2020. The summit will focus on six key topics: artificial intelligence and its role in shaping the future; criminal justice reform and policy transformation; cryptocurrency and Black economic empowerment; strengthening the Black family; navigating modern cultural debates; and Gen Z's influence in politics and media. While several members of the Black Conservative Federation have gone on to work in the Trump administration and the broader conservative movement, organizers say the event is about more than short-term wins. It is designed to foster long-term talent and leadership development across the country, they say. "We are not only honoring the legacy of freedom, we're building on it. By mentoring emerging voices and expanding access to civic engagement, we're carrying the torch of progress with purpose," Johnson said. Among the featured speakers at the summit are Lynne Patton, deputy assistant to the president and director of minority outreach at the White House; Rep. Wesley Hunt of Texas; Anne Marie Wiley, former cast member of "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills"; Alex Smith, deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Treasury Department; and Janiyah Thomas, former Black media director for the Trump campaign. The Trump "pardon czar" Alice Johnson will also be speaking to the group as will Death Row Records founder Michael Harris. Several high-profile Black conservative influencers are also slated to participate, including CJ Pearson, Xavier DuRousseau and members of The Carter Family, who stream videos on YouTube. The Black Conservative Federation was initially founded as a political networking group for Black conservatives but has since expanded its mission to focus on diversifying the conservative movement and promoting conservative principles. The group emphasizes its work in political advocacy, outreach and civic engagement. Trump addressed the group during a Black History Month event in 2024, signaling a rise in the group's visibility within MAGA-era Republican circles. Its leadership includes Rep. Byron Donalds, who serves as chairman, and former NFL player Jack Brewer, the organization's current co-chairman.
GMA Network
8 hours ago
- Business
- GMA Network
NBA: Walter's deep pockets could fuel Lakers return to glory
LOS ANGELES — Billionaire Mark Walter's purchase of a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, in a deal that values the team at $10 billion, adds another glittering asset to his sports portfolio and could usher in another championship era for the National Basketball League franchise. The Buss family, the longest-tenured owners in the NBA, is entering into an agreement to make the sale to Walter, ESPN reported on Wednesday, in what would be the largest-ever sale of a professional sports team. The Lakers have yet to confirm the deal. Walter, 65, is the CEO of holding company TWG Global and financial services firm Guggenheim Partners, and LA sports fans do not need to look far to see the impact his mighty checkbook can have on a franchise. Walter, along with a group that included Lakers legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson, purchased the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2012 for $2.15 billion in what at the time was an MLB record. Under his ownership, the Dodgers have made 12 straight playoff appearances, won two championships, including last season's World Series and added generational talents Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Shohei Ohtani. 'Ecstatic' Johnson, a Hall of Famer who won five NBA titles with the Lakers, said fans should be "ecstatic" about Iowa native Walter becoming the team's next owner. "A few things I can tell you about Mark - he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way," Johnson said in a post on X on Wednesday. The reported $10 billion valuation of the Lakers was eyebrow-raising, especially after their historic rivals the Boston Celtics sold for $6.1 billion in April. But it was not a surprise that Walter would be on the other side of the deal. He has been a stakeholder in the team since 2021. Walter's net worth is estimated at $12.5 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Unlike Major League Baseball, the NBA has a salary cap. Still, there are plenty of ways for a deep-pocketed owner to use his money to the team's advantage, from developing players to hiring the best staff. The Lakers have 17 NBA titles, with the latest one coming in 2020. That is second only to the Celtics who have 18, including in 2024. In addition to his ownership of the Dodgers, Walter is also co-owner of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, Premier League side Chelsea FC and, through TWG Motorsports, owns Cadillac Formula One team, which will debut next year. His other financial interests include international women's tennis competition the Billie Jean Cup and the Professional Women's Hockey League, which named its championship trophy the "Walter Cup" after him and his wife Kimbra. Walter's growing footprint in the Los Angeles sports scene comes at a time when the Southern California city is preparing to play a key role in hosting FIFA World Cup matches next summer. Dodger Stadium will host baseball and softball competitions during the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028, while the Lakers' home of Arena in downtown LA will serve as the venue for gymnastics and boxing. — Reuters
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
WATCH: Highlights of Ohio State football's newest linebacker commit, Cincere Johnson
WATCH: Highlights of Ohio State football's newest linebacker commit, Cincere Johnson #hudl - Highlights of Ohio State football's newest commit, 4-star linebacker Cincere Johnson. — Buckeyes Wire (@BuckeyesWire) June 19, 2025 The Ohio State football recruiting efforts paid off in a big way on Thursday when 4-star linebacker Cincere Johnson announced his commitment to the Buckeyes. Out of the pipeline that is Glenville High School in Cleveland, Ohio, the 6-foot, 3-inch, 240-pound Johnson should continue to make the linebacker room in Columbus a very good one for years to come. It's one thing to just hear about a commitment's recruiting service ranking and feel good about what the Buckeyes have landed; it's another to be able to get eyes on video highlights to see what he can bring to the program. We like to pull the previous high school season highlights from our friends at Hudl to provide you with some tangible evidence or what a commitment has done, and it's no different here. Johnson should bring size, speed, and versatility to the linebacking unit. He's a top-notch tackler, but can also come off the edge to provide pressure and disruption. Read More | Ohio State football 2026 recruiting class tracker Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes and opinion. Follow Phil Harrison on X.
