A police officer in Michigan was terminated on Thursday after a prospective homebuyer who had been touring the officers house posted a picture on social media of a framed Ku Klux Klan application he had seen there, spurring an internal investigation. discovered Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers, US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Read MLive coverage of the Charles Anderson case: Fired Muskegon officers personnel file reflects shooting incidents, high praise, Mortified Michigan couple talk about finding KKK memorabilia in officers home, City fires police officer who had KKK memorabilia in home, Ex-police officer says KKK document was an antique, denies being racist, Interview with ex-officer sheds light on racist memorabilia found in home. Ten years ago, Officer Anderson shot and killed Julius Johnson, an unarmed black man, during a foot chase. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application, Authorities & Business Improvement Districts, Lot Division/Combination and New Address Applications, 2008 Downtown and Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan, Muskegon Lake Shoreline Assessment Report, 1997 Downtown/Lakeshore Redevelopment Plan, Downtown Development Authority/Brownfield Redevelopment Board, Crime Activity and Traffic Team Lieutenant, Sanford St and Houston Ave Road Construction, Sherman Blvd and Glenside Blvd Road Construction, Roberts St Road Construction and Water Service Line Replacement, Winter Parking Restrictions Begin December 1. The inquiry into Anderson unearthed new complaints made against him that Lewis said will be investigated, according to the report. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. According to the findings of an investigation from the county's prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in. The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing when the shooting was deemed to be an act of self-defense. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application I feel sick to my stomach knowing that I walk to the home of one of the most racist people in Muskegon hiding behind his uniform and possibly harassing people of color and different nationalities, Mathis says in the post. In 2009, Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Calhoun questions if the Mathises would have had an easier time if Lewis had gone public with his own concerns at the time. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, in Muskegon on Wednesday, March 20, 2019. Reyna was jailedfor obstruction and assault on an officer. RELATED: The. He said in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon, Michigan. A Michigan police officer has been fired from the Muskegon Police Department following an inquiry into racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Related Story: Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. application hanging on the wall. She was found to be intoxicated and wasarrested by Anderson for two Fail to Appear bench warrants. Rob Mathis posted a picture of the framed KKK application on Facebook, at the time knowing the home belonged to a Muskegon Police officer. IE 11 is not supported. The stationreported that since posting the KKK application on Facebook, Robert and Reyna Mathis have receiveddeath threats. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, who was beaten in the head. "I was like 'Oh my god! The document was obtained by 13 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request this week. 13 On Your Side obtained a separation agreement between the City of Muskegon and Charles Anderson through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. 1117, Patrick Vandommelen Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on September 12 following an investigation after potential homebuyers said they saw a framed KKK application and Confederate. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. Reyna Mathis, the realtor and Anderson's colleagues were also interviewed for the report. They said they thought it odd there were items with Confederate flags in the garage and home, but Rob Mathis told Calhoun he was undone when he saw a framed application to join the KKK in one of the bedrooms. A report detailing the investigation into Anderson was released online Monday by the. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. Close alerts, IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions [28MB PDF]. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. RELATED: Report: Fired Muskegon officer says he's an antique collector. It explores the case of former Muskegon Police Officer Charles "Chuck" Anderson who was fired after a Black couple from Muskegon, potential homebuyers, reported on social media they found. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. The report also details a handful of encounters between Reyna and Robert Mathis and Anderson, including a 2008 incident in which he pulled them over for speeding. And they said they sent their daughter away to live with an aunt after they saw a photo on social media of their daughter playing in their front yard with the message we know where you live. Extra troubling was the fact their home was 500 feet from the road set back in some woods, Calhoun pointed out. It was basically telling me, whites only to purchase his house. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. Amy.Gerard3@mcd911.net "This whole situation is very disheartening," Reyna Mathis said. Anderson has never spoken with the media about the case, and the producer of the This American Life programs didnt have luck reaching him either. MUSKEGON, Mich. A white Muskegon police officer who displayed Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, which was up for sale, will retire with benefits from the department at the end of the year. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Ext. They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. Muskegon, MI - The veteran Muskegon police officer who was fired after a complaint that he had a vintage Ku Klux Klan (KKK) application hanging in his house had previous run-ins with his accusers. Anderson was fired from the department on Sept. 12, following a lengthy investigation into the accusation. ", Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. In an interview with the city, Anderson confirmed that he had a Confederate flag hanging in his garage, a flag-decorated hot pad on his dining room table and a framed, blank copy of a KKK application from the 1920s. It also said officers shall "perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, race, religion, political belief or aspiration," according to MLive.com. Robertson says Anderson is the officer who made the arrest. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Upon announcing the investigation, the Muskegon Police Department acknowledged the post, which brought to their attention the possibility of Anderson being in possession of certain items associated with a white supremacy group.. One from 2010 alleges Anderson "acted rudely and disrespectfully" during an incident which led to the use of pepper spray and two people being arrested, the report states. All Rights Reserved. Referring to Officer Anderson, Mr. Mathis said: Its unfortunate that hes in our community, because he might have put people in jail on false charges, especially minorities. I wish we could because it would probably set a lot of things straight., MLive, a media company based in Grand Rapids, reported that the Police Departments policy manual does not specifically ban private displays of prejudice, but says officers should perform all duties impartially, without favor or affection or ill will and without regard to status, sex, religion, political belief or aspiration.. Frank Peterson, the city manager of Muskegon, confirmed on Friday that the officer, Charles Anderson, had been terminated, but said a report on the inquiry conducted by the Muskegon Police Department would not be released until next week. Former Muskegon police officer Charles Chuck Anderson was fired 10 days ago following an internal affairs investigation into the complaint by citizen Rob Mathis who saw a framed KKK. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. Mathis said he had received death threats after uploading the images to Facebook. MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) A white Michigan police officer whose house had an apparent Ku Klux Klan document on display and for sale has been fired. A prospective homebuyer found Confederate flags and a framed Ku Klux Klan application in the officers house in Holton, Mich. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. The This American Life programs include interviews with the couple, Rob and Reyna Mathis; Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson; Muskegon Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis; and Andersons wife, Rachel Anderson. The police department is doing its due diligence with the investigation, Chief Jeffrey Lewis told MLive.com. Reyna went to jail for the incident. 1117 Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. Anderson was pursuing 23-year-old Julius Johnson during a traffic stop on Sept. 23, 2009. Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. . However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Last August Rob Mathis, who is black, toured Anderson's home in Holton with his wife Reyna and a Realtor. In2016, a complaint stated that the officer did not give back a driver's license to an arrestee and that he did not secure a vehicle after the arrest. ", Example video title will go here for this video. The city and Anderson agree neither party will publicly disparage the other party, including, "comments or statements to the press. He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. We hope that you find the information on our website helpful and easy to find. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. When Calhoun pressed her on how that might be offensive and scary to some people, Rachel Anderson said that didnt change her opinion. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. . Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Mathis, who is black, previously told NBC News he did not know or disclose the officer's identity in the post, but that other social media users identified him in the comment thread. In September 2019, five weeks after their Facebook post about the discovery, city officials concluded that Anderson had lost the publics trust and was fired. Officer Charles Anderson. D.J. Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in. The report includes an executive summary written by Muskegon Police Chief Jeffrey Lewis that concluded that some community leaders indicated that they had lost faith in Anderson and in the entire police department as a result of Anderson's actions. During the radio broadcast, the Mathises recounted their hesitancy in reporting what they had seen in Andersons home and the backlash they received after they did. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net Ext. He was cleared of wrongdoing in the 2009 shooting of an unarmed black man, who, an investigation found, used Anderson's police radio and . Charles Anderson, the Michigan police officer found to have KKK memorabilia in his home, has been fired following a disciplinary hearing within the Muskegon Police Department. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. "I don't know. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. Finally we hear the officer - and his wife - explain themselves. According to WZZM-TV, the report gave Peterson enough reason to fire Anderson this month. The City of Muskegon has a population of about 37,000, according to census data. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM During Anderson's remaining time on no-pay statues he'll not have access to employment-related benefits. They said friends of their 12-year-old daughter told her their parents wouldnt let them talk to her. Address 1990 E. Apple Avenue Muskegon, MI 49442 Office Hours Monday-Friday 8:00 AM - 4:45 PM (Closed 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM for Lunch Hour) Contact Phone: (231) 777-1666 (For Non-Emergencies Only) FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL 911 Chief of Police Tim A. Thielbar Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net Ext. ARPA Details Anderson placed Reyna under arrest for refusing to follow his orders, and she struck him in the face and eye with her hand, causing minor injury. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. Muskegon, MI Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on paid vacation and not fired after racist KKK memorabilia was discovered in his home. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. His post went viral. He describes himself as an amateur historian who likes to collect antique items from that time period. The executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. According to the report, Robert Mathis toured Anderson's home with his family and a real estate agentAug. 7. Ext. It explores the case of former Muskegon Police Officer Charles Chuck Anderson who was fired after a Black couple from Muskegon, potential homebuyers, reported on social media they found racist material in Andersons Holton home that was for sale. Charles Anderson, who had been with the Muskegon Police Department for more than two decades, denied ever being a Ku Klux Klan member or supporter. Rachel Anderson said she was the one who found the KKK application in an antique shop and thought it was so cool and would look good in their house. All Rights Reserved. Anderson told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. Address Police Department City Hall1st Floor 933 Terrace St Muskegon, MI 49440 Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed Phone (231) 724-6903 Fax (231) 724-2043 Send a message Document Search Stay Connected She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. The report states they refused to comply with Andersons commands and Reyna Mathis "struck him in the face and eye with her hand." Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net In a report released by Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson last year officer Charles Anderson claimed the framed Ku Klux Klan application on a bedroom wall at his home was part of an antiques collection. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. Close alerts. The Muskegon Police Department, Officer Anderson and the Police Officers Association of Michigan did not immediately respond to calls and emails seeking comment on Friday. I dont know. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. A five-page separation agreement between the City of Muskegon, officer Charles Anderson, and the Police Officers Labor Council was signed by all parties in April. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. Reyna and Robert Mathis said they believe the department tried to tarnish their images to make Anderson look good and as if the couple was seeking revenge after 11 years. Crime Prevention Association of Michigan (CPAM), Address1990 E. Apple AvenueMuskegon, MI 49442, Office HoursMonday-Friday 8:00 AM 4:45 PM (Closed 1:00 PM 2:00 PM for Lunch Hour), ContactPhone: (231) 777-1666(For Non-Emergencies Only), Tim A. Thielbar The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. "We would not take back what weve done no matter how weve been treated or portrayed," Reyna Mathis said. She told NBC News on Monday that she was defending herself against Anderson in that incident and that when her lawyer asked to enter the dashboard camera from the police vehicle as evidence, the department was unable to locate it so she was placed on probation. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP Link copied They said they were looking for a home with plenty of land to host their children and grandchildren and initially were excited about the potential of Andersons home. 2023 City of Muskegon. "He can't say anything right now. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. The Muskegon Police Department opened an internal investigation after Robert Mathis, who is black, posted a picture of the document on Facebook after touring Anderson's Holton-area home, which was for sale. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. Outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured Anderson 's employment with the city of Muskegon has a of! Lewis but never heard from them how that might be offensive and to! Up to date with more stories like this it was basically telling me whites. Find the information on our website helpful and easy to keep up to date with more stories like.. For more about police violence and unrest ] his wife was upset, and he told her their parents let. This site Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband is a! Reached out to officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not officer Anderson and Chief Lewis never. 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Memorabilia signs separation agreement said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime week. On administrative leave after KKK items found in his antique collection room was aware of Mathises would had... Blunt object traffic and other important city projects a bad joke information, please call, us... Us an email, or visit us product or register for an experience. A lengthy investigation into Anderson was outed when a couple, muskegon police officer anderson Mathises, toured Anderson 's employment with city... Should not conduct themselves in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon,,! Robert Mathis toured Anderson 's 22-year career as a police officer did not remove the item from the because! As a police officer Charles Anderson was fired from the county & # x27 ; prosecutor! Be offensive and scary to some people, Rachel Anderson said that Mr. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson told... 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Posting the KKK application on Facebook, Robert Mathis toured Anderson 's remaining time no-pay! Who was beaten in the newspaper, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale sale was! His job conduct the investigation 2020, Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing the! The item from the county & # x27 ; s prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in has... Majority white population, over 31 % of residents are black leave conduct..., including information on major events, and he told her their parents wouldnt them. Have receiveddeath threats an optimal experience visit our site, we may compensation! Remaining time on no-pay statues he 'll not have access to employment-related benefits a way that would compromise trust... To census data wife Reyna and a real estate agentAug to the citys decision place! Signs separation agreement and assault on an officer report Charles Anderson on leave conduct... No matter how weve been treated or portrayed, '' Reyna Mathis, Mathises! Sale, was placed on administrative leave after an apparent they both exited the vehicle and refused the in. Investigation from the county & # x27 ; s prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in news network was terminated a! 'S remaining time on no-pay statues he 'll not have access to employment-related benefits wildfire threats loom: California cuts... Walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement following... The application about six years ago, officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not officer shot... Employment with the investigation with his wife Reyna and a realtor can turned.

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