December 15, 2006
Tank Johnson Arrested... Again!
Chicagoist is starting to understand how Tank Johnson got his nickname. Could it be his fascination with weapons? While some people would learn from past experiences involving guns that could jeopardize one's freedom and multi-million dollar contract, others just don't seem to put two and two together. Tank Johnson apparently falls into the later category.
The Chicago Bears' defensive tackle was charged yet again yesterday, this time with "six misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a weapon without a Firearm Owner's Identification card" following a raid on his Gurnee home. The six counts resulted from the cache of six guns discovered -- including a three handguns, a rifle and two assult weapons.
Tank was at Halas Hall at the time of the raid, but his girlfriend, their two children and a friend were presents as the Gurnee police SWAT team cleared part of the neighborhood and descended upon the house with shields and armored vehicles. The raid was supposedly the result of an investigation that began in early November, culminating in the search warrant executed yesterday.
The friend, Willie B. Posey, 26, was charged with felony possession of marijuana after more than 2 ounces of pot was recovered, in addition to the guns.
The latest run-in with the police is already Tank Johnson's third since he joined the Bears in 2004. In June 2005, Johnson was arrested at Excalibur after a valet saw him stick a gun in the center console of his SUV. He followed that up with an arrest outside Level for aggravated assault and resisting arrest after police attempted to ticket the limo waiting for him.
For the first time, however, Tank's brushes with the law have happened mid-season. And at a particularly critical time of the season for the Bears, as the begin to ramp up for a playoff run and hopefully a trip to Miami.
With the recent loss of Tommie Harris, the defensive line is already weakened. This distraction can't help. Johnson's expected in court on Jan. 9, the day before the Bears first playoff game. While the charges themselves would result in fines, his previous record and subsequent probation could complicate things.
Will this latest legal issue impact Tank's playing status this season, or will it simply be a "distraction" to the team? The league's collective bargaining agreement prevents the Bears from suspending him and the league typically only responds with a suspension or fine after a conviction. For example, Ricky Manning Jr. just missed the Bears-Patriots game as a result of an plea bargain following his off-season arrest.
League rules notwithstanding, the Trib's Rick Morrissey is calling for the Bears to place Tank on the "inactive list" indefinitely and to tell him to get his life in order. We certainly agree with Morrissey that Tank needs some help. There is no excuse for endangering one's kids, nor is there any excuse for jeopardizing what his teammates have worked so hard to accomplish.
But the reality is that the Bears really can't do much because of the league policy. However, Chicagoist does wonder whether the Bears could send him to Cincinnati for a few days to get some counseling from the commish?
AP Photo/Gurnee police via The News-Sun
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Hey! Leave my Bengals out of this! Marvin Lewis has plenty of stuff to deal with as it is, like 15% of his active roster under arrest, and the entire state of kentucky.
I was waiting for a Bengals joke in there... got it just in time.
Man, I like Tank, too. When Micheal Haynes was with the team the both of them would go to the Dairy Queen in Bourbonnais during Training Camp and just sit and talk football with anyone that sat with them.
Why did the cops set up an investigation since November and get a warrant to raid over unregistered weapons resulting in misdemeanor charges? This is the real question.
"their two children and a friend were presents[!] as the Gurnee police SWAT team"
proof-READ!
proof-READ!
proof-READ!
NSH, Over at Deadspin they mentioned that they've been investigating him for drug charges for a while, the guns were just the icing on the cake.
But as that's another blog that full of conjecture, too, take it with a grain of salt.
If Chicago wants to prove itself as a real football town, the powers that be need to "reschedule" the hearing to maybe mid-February? They've done it in places way less corrupt than Chicago.
"Why did the cops set up an investigation since November and get a warrant to raid over unregistered weapons resulting in misdemeanor charges? This is the real question. "
Because he's a rich black man in Gurnee? Just sayin'. Funny how they use the flash bombs and bust into the place to find his baby momma, two kids, smoked-up friend and some unregistered guns that get you nothing more than a misdemanor charge. Must have been the most exciting op for the Gurnee PD in years.
Odds are he'll get a continuance on his hearing and it'll be pushed back into February after the season is finished.
I think there is a much larger point being missed here.
Why the heck was a SWAT Team deployed in the first place. A SWAT TEAM???? I assume these are the guys who come, dressed in ninja costumes, bashing down doors destroying Mr. Johnson’s private property - over - over- what? 2 ounces of pot and some guns (this is still America where we can own guns right)? BTW 6 guns isn't "a cache" of weapons - and each one you list is perfectly legal.
All this for what amounts to a small fine for Mr. Johnson? What would have happened if a person inside startled by their door being bashed in, and thinking they were being robbed, picked up a weapon and shot in self defense??? I'll tell you what: a devastating onsluaght of gunfire from SWAT weapons like FULLY AUTOMATIC HK UMP 45's and other submachine gun variants capable of firing over 600 rounds per minute. There were children in that house.
Last year more than 50,000 such raids were performed by SWAT teams across the country - 99% were for the purpose of SERVING WARRANTS - NOT hostage situations, etc. where their use would be appropriate. I refer you to www.theAgitator.com Radley Balko’s site formerly of the CATO Institute to see the tragic consequences of such unnecessary raids. I refer you to the shooting death of 18 year old Mr. Strickland, a student who was shoot twice (head and chest) THROUGH HIS CLOSED FRONT DOOR by a SWAT team looking for a stolen X-Box.
People are being maimed and killed by these little men playing army in our neighborhoods. And here is yet another example of mis-use of SWAT teams. Why not just knock on the door with a warrant using a normal community police man - just like it always used to be done - before we started turning our community police forces into paramilitary units?
Respectfully,
Nick Charles
http://welcome2nicksplace.blogspot.com/
How could Gurnee go after Tank while that weird, dancing, wrinkly, old guy that does all that crazy dancing over at Six Flags gets to walk around like a free man?
His face is the material of nightmares, I tell you!
Hey Nick,
You're right, you are allowed to own weapons in this great country. But in this case, Tank "I'm-300-pounds-but-still-feel-the-need-to-protect-myself-with-assault-rifles"Johnson didn't follow the proper procedure and illegally acquired the weapons.
While gun violence of any kind is tragic, I ask you this: Which is worse? A criminal subsequently being shot by police after firing at them with an illegally acquired weapon? Or keeping that unregistered assault rifle on the street where it could fall into the hands of a gang-banger who might use it in a drive-by that kills an innocent 8-year-old?
Hey give him a break. The guns are a back up plan for when people finally wise up and get bored of football.
Jeff, Tank doesn't live at 51st & ashland, I can't think of a scenario that would lead to guns from Tanks Gurnee home ending up in the hands of a gangbanger, on ebay maybe but Blackstone Rangers, doubt it.
You're argument holds as much water as a towel that is already wet. (just thought of that, thank you, thank you)
i am not a fan of guns. in fact, i am for pretty strict gun control. however, i think nick's got a pretty good point. unless there's some reason to believe there's a dangerous criminal in a home, sitting and waiting with a weapon inside, i don't really see the need for an actual SWAT team to be deployed to serve warrants. some backup? sure.
but full on crazy ass navy seal SWAT team action? that's wack.
Most of the Football players that play in the NFL probably have a criminal background, so who cares. This kind of thing always ruins a team from winning the superbowl.
Um, I think the Cowboys dynasty of the 90's would beg to differ, LD. Micheal "crack rocks" Irvin, Nate "600+ lbs. of weed in the back of the truck" Newton, and the notorious "White House" where all the players partied in the offseason.
And they won, what, 3 Super Bowls?