RIALTO: No charges for coach, who’s welcomed back
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Eisenhower High School boys basketball coach and athletic director Steve Johnson is welcome to return to work when he recovers from being shot, a Rialto Unified School District spokeswoman said Friday, March 1, although questions remain about Johnson’s statements to police.
The San Bernardino County district attorney’s office said Friday that it declined to file charges against Johnson after criminal charges were sought by San Bernardino police.
“At this time the case submitted to our office against Mr. Johnson has been turned down,” district attorney’s spokesman Christopher Lee said. “Since the shooting in this case is still unsolved it would be inappropriate to comment any further.”
Johnson was shot four times Jan. 22 at Seccombe Lake Park in San Bernardino in an attempted robbery. He was able to drive himself to the San Bernardino Police Department to report the shooting.
San Bernardino Police Chief Robert Handy said last month that Johnson’s initial story didn’t add up and raised questions for detectives. “He was less than truthful and withheld information that would have been helpful in solving the case,” Handy said then.
Handy said Friday that district attorney’s officials had not given any reason why they declined to file charges.
“We felt there was sufficient evidence to request charges, so that’s what we filed,” Handy said.
Handy did not elaborate on what charges police were recommending.
Rialto Unified School District spokeswoman Syeda Jafri was asked Friday whether the district, in light of Johnson’s position of influence over young men and women, would investigate Handy’s contention that Johnson had not been forthcoming. Jafri said she could not comment on that because it would be a personnel matter.
“Coach Johnson was a victim of a horrendous crime,” Jafri said. “We are fortunate that he miraculously survived. The district wishes him a healthy and a speedy recovery.”
Johnson, 47, of Yucaipa, told police he was driving from the Cal State San Bernardino area when he detoured through side streets into downtown San Bernardino after dark.
He said he drove to the southern end of the city to buy gas, when he needed to stop at the park to use the restroom.
Seccombe Lake Park has been notorious in the city for gangs and criminal activity. Handy said police had learned additional information from other sources about why Johnson stopped at the park.
While sitting in his car at the park, Johnson said he was confronted by three men who demanded his wallet. Johnson was shot four times during the attempted robbery.
But in the follow-up investigation, police said Johnson did not cooperate with detectives, and police suspected he may have been involved in criminal behavior.
Police are conducting a separate investigation into who shot Johnson.
Follow John Asbury on Twitter @johnasbury
Also contributing to this report: Staff Writer Brian Rokos, brokos@pe.com
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