Sheriff Terry Johnson, left, with North Carolina Rep. Dennis Riddell (R). Photo from Dennis Riddell
A North Carolina sheriff who was cleared in a federal racial profiling lawsuit claims to be part Cherokee, the Associated Press reports. The Department of Justice sued Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson in December 2012, accusing him of discriminating against Hispanic drivers. After holding a trial last August, a federal judge issued a 253-page decision on Friday that dismissed the complaint. “The sheriff does not tolerate any discrimination against anyone,” attorney Chuck Kitchen told the AP. Kitchen was the one who brought up Johnson's alleged Cherokee ancestry. But the AP didn't report whether the sheriff claims to be enrolled in any tribe. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians is based in the state. Johnson was elected to a fourth four-year term last November after running unopposed, the AP reported. Get the Story:
US judge: Sheriff didn’t violate Hispanics’ civil rights (AP 8/7)
Court rules for Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson in DOJ discrimination case (Fox 8 8/7)
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