Johnston County school board member resigns, saying he’s victim of ‘false accusations’
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Sex, blackmail and local politics: The extortion trial of JoCo school board member Ronald Johnson
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A Smithfield police officer who has been suspended with pay during an internal investigation is resigning his seat on the Johnston County school board.
Detective Ronald Johnson announced in a statement Friday to the JoCo Report that he’s resigning from the school board due to “relentless threats and harassment” and being “the target of false accusations impacting my career and personal life.”
The resignation comes a day after the Smithfield Police Department released a statement saying Johnson had been placed on administrative leave with pay while it conducts an internal investigation. Citing personnel laws, Smithfield Police did not discuss the allegations against Johnson, a 17-year officer.
“At this time, I am unable to serve in my role as a member of the Board of Education,” Johnson said in his statement. “For the past 3 months, I have been the subject of relentless threats and harassment, which include receiving threatening text messages from an anonymous phone number while I’m at board meetings and public places.”
Johnson said the threats have been reported.
‘False accusations’
Also in the statement, Johnson said he’s been the target of “false accusations.”
“Some people are taking this opportunity to torment me and my family regarding these false accusations,” Johnson said. “There comes a time when you need to step away from the drama and all the ones creating it. All things considered, I am not in position to govern or lead.”
Johnson said July 17 will be his last day on the school board and that he will send his resignation letter next week to Superintendent Eric Bracy.
Johnson has not responded to requests from news media outlets, including The News & Observer, about the suspension. He has only talked to the JoCo Report, which has consistently supported him during his tenure on the school board.
Board will pick replacement
Johnson was elected to the school board in 2016 and re-elected in 2020.
Under board policy, the board will appoint a person to finish Johnson’s unexpired term, which runs to 2024.
Johnson made waves in 2019 and 2020 accusing school district leaders of engaging in corrupt behavior.
Johnson also made national headlines in 2021 spearheading a new school board policy that puts rules on how teachers can discuss race and racism. For instance, the policy says students can’t be taught that racism is a permanent part of American life.
Johnson, a Republican, has been working with a group of conservative school board candidates to get them elected this year.
Last month, Johnson filed a complaint accusing a woman of stalking him. The complaint was dropped a week later.
This story was originally published July 8, 2022 at 9:37 AM with the headline "Johnston County school board member resigns, saying he’s victim of ‘false accusations’."
