Man tentatively identified as Tank Johnson's bodyguard slain
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By F.N. D'ALESSIO
Associated Press Writer
December 16, 2006, 7:50 AM CST
CHICAGO -- The personal troubles of Chicago Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson continued early Saturday when a man tentatively identified as his bodyguard was shot to death outside a Chicago nightclub.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said Willie B. Posey, 26, was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about 2 a.m. The office listed Posey's address as Johnson's home in north suburban Gurnee.
Chicago Police could not immediately confirm whether Posey was the man of the same name who was released on bond Friday after being arrested on marijuana charges at Johnson's home, but local television stations ran footage of Johnson leaving the hospital where Posey was pronounced dead Saturday morning.
Police Officer Kelly Liakopolous said she could confirm only that a man was shot once in the back during a fight outside the Ice Bar, a club in the city's popular River North neighborhood. No one at the bar returned a telephone message left Saturday by The Associated Press.
Posey was arrested Thursday on a count of felony cannabis possession during a police search of Johnson's home. Posey was released after posting the $10,000 bond set by a Lake County Circuit Court judge and had been scheduled to return to court Dec. 21.
Johnson was not at home during the search, but was later arrested himself on misdemeanor weapons charges because six unregistered firearms were found at his residence, police said.
Two of the weapons seized from Johnson's home were assault-style rifles, an AR-15 and a .223 caliber, said Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones. Three were powerful handguns -- a .44 Magnum, a .50 caliber, and a .45 caliber -- and one was a .308 Winchester hunting rifle, Jones said.
Johnson was released after posting 10 percent of his $1,000 bond, but Bears officials noted that it was his third legal entanglement in the last 18 months.
Coach Lovie Smith said Johnson will sit out Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. He said it was not a disciplinary action because that would have to come from the NFL.
Johnson practiced Friday and afterward offered a public apology to his teammates and family. He is scheduled for a court appearance Jan. 9, which would be several days before the NFC North champion Bears play their first postseason game.
In November 2005, Johnson was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest in which a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.
Johnson also was arrested last February after a confrontation outside a Chicago nightclub, but the charges were dropped after the police officer he allegedly scuffled with decided not to pursue the case.
Posey said in court Friday he was Johnson's bodyguard, the Chicago Tribune and (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported on the newspapers' Web sites. Gurnee police could not confirm Posey's relationship to Johnson.
coincidence???????????????????????????????????????????????????
Advertisement
Click Here
By F.N. D'ALESSIO
Associated Press Writer
December 16, 2006, 7:50 AM CST
CHICAGO -- The personal troubles of Chicago Bears nose tackle Tank Johnson continued early Saturday when a man tentatively identified as his bodyguard was shot to death outside a Chicago nightclub.
The Cook County Medical Examiner's office said Willie B. Posey, 26, was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about 2 a.m. The office listed Posey's address as Johnson's home in north suburban Gurnee.
Chicago Police could not immediately confirm whether Posey was the man of the same name who was released on bond Friday after being arrested on marijuana charges at Johnson's home, but local television stations ran footage of Johnson leaving the hospital where Posey was pronounced dead Saturday morning.
Police Officer Kelly Liakopolous said she could confirm only that a man was shot once in the back during a fight outside the Ice Bar, a club in the city's popular River North neighborhood. No one at the bar returned a telephone message left Saturday by The Associated Press.
Posey was arrested Thursday on a count of felony cannabis possession during a police search of Johnson's home. Posey was released after posting the $10,000 bond set by a Lake County Circuit Court judge and had been scheduled to return to court Dec. 21.
Johnson was not at home during the search, but was later arrested himself on misdemeanor weapons charges because six unregistered firearms were found at his residence, police said.
Two of the weapons seized from Johnson's home were assault-style rifles, an AR-15 and a .223 caliber, said Gurnee Police Chief Robert Jones. Three were powerful handguns -- a .44 Magnum, a .50 caliber, and a .45 caliber -- and one was a .308 Winchester hunting rifle, Jones said.
Johnson was released after posting 10 percent of his $1,000 bond, but Bears officials noted that it was his third legal entanglement in the last 18 months.
Coach Lovie Smith said Johnson will sit out Sunday's game against Tampa Bay. He said it was not a disciplinary action because that would have to come from the NFL.
Johnson practiced Friday and afterward offered a public apology to his teammates and family. He is scheduled for a court appearance Jan. 9, which would be several days before the NFC North champion Bears play their first postseason game.
In November 2005, Johnson was sentenced to 18 months probation and 40 hours community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge stemming from an arrest in which a nightclub valet reported seeing Johnson with a handgun in his sport utility vehicle.
Johnson also was arrested last February after a confrontation outside a Chicago nightclub, but the charges were dropped after the police officer he allegedly scuffled with decided not to pursue the case.
Posey said in court Friday he was Johnson's bodyguard, the Chicago Tribune and (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reported on the newspapers' Web sites. Gurnee police could not confirm Posey's relationship to Johnson.
coincidence???????????????????????????????????????????????????
