Fair Bluff Town Manager doesn’t like to see himself on TV; Won’t address employee who wrecked car

FAIR BLUFF, NC (WWAY) — Two weeks after a Fair Bluff town employee wrecked a town-owned car, there are still few details about what led to the crash. The driver, Billie Johnson, faces several charges after flipping the car into a ditch.

Today we tried to ask the town manager what happened and how Johnson still has his job, but he said he didn’t know.

We’ve been searching for answers about how the town is handling the case of Johnson, a town employee accused of wrecking a town-owned car in a late-night crash, walking away from the scene and later blowing a 0.08 blood alcohol level.

Wednesday Town Manager Al Leonard did not have any answers about what has or will happen.

Leonard, who ran for state House last year and also serves as Tabor City’s Manager, refused to go on camera saying, “I don’t like to see myself on TV.”

Off camera, he said he was not part of the discussion on disciplining Johnson, even though as town manager he is Johnson’s boss. Leonard did say Johnson still works for the town and would probably get a town-owned vehicle again.

It’s a case with twists and turns that has folks in fair bluff divided.

“They ought to punish him just like they would anybody else,” Fair Bluff resident Timmy Parker said.

Most people we tried to talk with would not go on camera. Many said they were friends of Johnson, and that this was just an example of a mistake by a good, long-time town worker. But one resident says something needs to happen.

“They need to do something about it, because if he does it one time, he’ll think he can get by with it again,” Parker said.

Johnson is charged with filing a false report, failure to alert law enforcement of a wreck and failure to reduce speed. He told police he was trying to avoid something in the road when the accident happened. Police say he will not be charged with drunk driving.