Bio & Incident Details
Age: 46
Tour: 22 years
Badge # 5684
Cause: Heart attack
Incident Date: 1/7/2003
Weapon: Person
Suspect: Apprehended
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Detective Johnson suffered a fatal heart attack after struggling with a suspect at Overbrook High School at about 1700 hours.
Detective Johnson, who volunteered as a part-time basketball coach, was in the gym for team photographs when a student came in and created a disturbance. The student refused to leave, and as Detective Johnson escorted him out of the gym, the boy took a swing at him and started to struggle. During the struggle, Detective Johnson was able to get handcuffs on the suspect before collapsing.
After Detective Johnson collapsed, the handcuffed suspect fled as bystanders came to Detective Johnson's aid. Detective Johnson was transported to Lankenau Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was apprehended shortly after 2100 hours and charged with assaulting a police officer with other charges pending.
Detective Johnson had been employed with the Philadelphia Police Department for 22 years and was assigned to the Southwest Detective Dvision.
