Former UFC fighter Anthony Johnson was arrested in Boca Raton, FL this weekend and charged with domestic battery.
Anthony Johnson, 35, was arrested in Boca Raton, Fl on Sunday and charged with one count of battery/domestic battery, according to a criminal probable cause affidavit obtained by Bloody Elbow.
The affidavit states that Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call on Sunday night from an individual who claimed to be the victim of a domestic disturbance. Deputies arrived at a residence to meet with the alleged victim, who told them that her boyfriend, Johnson, “picked her up and carried her into another room during an argument.”
According to the alleged victim, Johnson had come to their apartment to discuss “an issue they had over the weekend.” The alleged victim said that they began packing Johnson’s belongings when, “he came into the room and picked her up in a ‘football hold’ and carried her into another room.”
The alleged victim said she was scared due to Johnson’s size and “martial arts experience.” The alleged victim said she then asked for her phone, which Johnson gave her. She then went out onto her balcony and called 911.
According to the affidavit a sheriff’s deputy interviewed Johnson, who was sitting on a couch in the living room. The deputy stated that Johnson claimed he and the alleged victim where arguing about an issue they had over the weekend. Johnson said he decided to leave and began to pack his own belongings, which were in one of the bedrooms.
Johnson then claimed that the alleged victim followed him into the room to continue the argument. Johnson said he asked her to leave him alone and stop talking to him. Johnson then admitted to picking the alleged victim up and moving her to another room, “to get her away from him.” Johnson told the deputy that he was not trying to hurt the alleged victim, but he wanted her to stop arguing with him.
The affidavit states that the alleged victim did not have any visible injuries. The alleged victim refused to complete a written statement.
In their closing comments the arresting deputy wrote, “I believe Johnson actually and intentionally touched [the alleged victim] against her will, which is a violation of P. S. S. 784.03(1) Battery/Domestic Battery.”
Johnson was arrested and transported to Palm Beach County Jail without incident. After being charged with domestic battery Johnson was released on condition that he appears for scheduled court hearings.
This is not Johnson’s first encounter with law enforcement. A records check for Johnson at Palm Beach County showed five traffic infractions and two criminal traffic charges. In neighboring Broward County Johnson has two closed traffic infractions cases and one pending case of Dating Violence.
The Dating Violence case against Johnson was filed on August 23rd, 2018. The most recent event in that open case was a court hearing concerning a temporary injunction, which occurred on February 6th.
In 2014, Bloody Elbow reported that Johnson was subject of a restraining order from a woman who accused Johnson of striking her and knocking out two of her teeth. In a police report obtained by BE the alleged victim stated she and Johnson had had several verbal altercations and that she received threatening calls and text messages from an unknown male.
In 2009, while he was living in San Lorenzo, CA, Johnson was charged with domestic violence, battery, death threats, and destroying a phone to prevent the report of a crime. Johnson pleaded no contest in 2010 and was sentenced to three years of probation, community service, and was ordered to attend domestic violence counseling.
When reporting on this case East Bay Times stated that the victim told police that Johnson, “pushed her around, picked her up by her armpits and slammed her to the ground. He then put her in a headlock and dragged her up a flight of stairs.”
Johnson’s professional MMA career spanned between 2006 and 2017. During his career he had two tenures in the UFC, the first between 2007 and 2012. His second UFC run began in 2014 and lasted until his retirement. During that period he lost twice to Daniel Cormier in fights for the UFC light heavyweight title.
Since retiring from MMA, Johnson has launched a CBD oil company and worked in a fighter relations capacity with Bare Knuckle Fighting Championships. In this weekend’s police affidavit, Johnson listed his occupation as ‘retired’.