He also was issued a ticket for OVI, but that charge was not part of Monday’s arraignment.
Johnson has been a Hamilton police officer since 2004 and in July was promoted to sergeant.
The injury crash happened around 11 p.m. in the 5900 block of Cincinnati-Brookville Road when Johnson crossed over the center lane and hit another vehicle head-on that was traveling westbound, according to the crash report.
The woman in the other vehicle was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening.
Johnson was placed in a cruiser during the investigation into the crash, which deputies reported they suspected involved alcohol.
“He began kicking the inside of the passenger door. A (deputy) saw the suspect kicking the car he made the suspect get out of the vehicle. After the investigation of the crash was completed the suspect was arrested. While placing the suspect back into the vehicle, (a deputy) noticed the door handle was broken off. The parts from the door handle were laying on the floor,” according to the incident report.
During video arraignment, Johnson said he had retained an attorney and requested an own recognizance bond, noting he has no prior record and lives in the county.
The magistrate granted the OR bond. Johnson is scheduled to be in Butler County Area I Court in Oxford on Thursday.
Johnson also was involved in an altercation in the parking lot of Ross High School during a high school football game, police said. Johnson left the parking lot driving the Toyota Tundra that was crashed a short time later.
Ross Twp. Police Chief Burt Roberts said the other person involved in the altercation did not want to press charges.
According to a witness, Johnson assaulted a woman, who also is a Hamilton police officer, while they were standing beside his truck in the parking lot telling her “to get back in the truck.”
The witness said he attempted to make contact with Johnson and “Mr. Johnson got in his face, then backed off, got in his truck and drove away.”
The incident happened at about 9:15 p.m. and according to the Ross Twp. report, the woman said she did not want to give a statement because she did not want to get Johnson in trouble.
Johnson’s attorney Lawrence Hawkins III declined comment.
According to Hamilton Capt. Marc McManus, “These are very serious and troubling allegations. If proven, they represent a significant breach of the public’s trust and warrant significant disciplinary action.”
Johnson has been relieved of duty and placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of an administrative investigation.
