At Least We Know Why They Call Him Tank Now

Cuz this is just what the Bears need right now.

Tank Johnson was charged with possession of six firearms without a FOID card. A FOID card is a Firearms Owner Identification card and is mandatory for any gun owner in Illinois.

Lake County officials this afternoon filed misdemeanor gun possession charges against Chicago Bears player Terry "Tank" Johnson following a raid at his far north suburban residence.

He was charged with six misdemeanor counts of unlawful possession of a weapon after police found six weapons in his home. Police say he lacked a Firearm Owner's Identification Card in violation of state law.

Witnesses say at least 20 officers participated in the raid of Tank Johnson's home, a raid that culminated an investigation that had been ongoing since November 4th.

But why an investigation? What did the police suspect was going on in Tank's home?

Gurnee police had executed a search warrant Thursday at Johnson's home in what sources described as an apparent drug raid.

Johnson, a third-year Bear who has had two previous run-ins with the law since joining the NFL team, apparently was not home when Gurnee police executed a search warrant shortly before 11 a.m. in the 400 block of Delany Road in the far north suburb.

Sources familiar with the case said police apparently were seeking drugs.

Awesome.

The police did find some pot on Willie Posey, a 26-year-old man who apparently lives with Tank Johnson. He was present at the house along with Tank's 25-year-old girlfriend, and their two small children.

Police escort Johnson's girlfriend and two children from the home

Tank Johnson was at practice.

"I know that a search warrant was executed, put into play, on his home today. I found out about it a little while before practice. He is cooperating right now. We're disappointed in the situation that's come up right now. It's a distraction for the team and all of that, but I'll get more details and go from there."

-Lovie Smith

What makes this situation even dicier for Johnson is that he's already on probation from an incident last year. Muchlike this one, Johnson was found to have illegally owned a firearm.

Also, last March Johnson got into a scuffle with a police officer outside of a Rush Street bar. He was charged with battery and resisting arrest, but both were dropped when the officer involved decided not to pursue the case. (Read: He was a Bears fan.)

Johnson posted a $100 bond, and is now out of custody of the police.

Nobody knows what the Bears or NFL are planning on doing about this. Odds are Tank will face some sort of punishment from both, but not until more details emerge from everything.

Like the Bears and NFL, we'll be keeping our eyes on this story, and keep you all updated with anything new.