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. 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. "He can't say anything right now. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. I was disgusted even being in that house.. The city's investigation claims items with images of Confederate flags at Anderson's home were part of a "Dukes of Hazzard" collection. 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. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. Ext. Anderson was fired in September following the release of the 421-page investigation by Muskegon Public Safety Director Jeffrey Lewis and Muskegon City Manager Peterson. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. The public radio program aired the first part, titled A Couple Walks Into a House on Jan. 21, and the second part, A City Walks Into an Investigation on Jan. 28. (12 minutes) He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. 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. The document was obtained by 13 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request this week. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. 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. It was basically telling me, whites only to purchase his house. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. 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. Peterson refused to provide further details about what was discussed during the disciplinary hearing, but said that a redacted version of the inquiry into . The City of Muskegon has a population of about 37,000, according to census data. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Officer Charles Anderson was terminated after a disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday afternoon, Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told NBC News. This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. "This whole situation is very disheartening," Reyna Mathis said. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson describes his struggle with Julius Allen-Ray Johnson prior to fatally shooting him on Sept. 23, 2009. Officer Charles Anderson testifies in Muskegon, Michigan, March 20, 2019. 1119, Deasha Hill Ext. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. I walked into the most racist home Ive ever been in in my life, Mr. Mathis said. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. Anyone can read what you share. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. Although Rob and Reyna Mathis originally debated whether to share the photos publicly, they said they felt a need to inform the community about what they had witnessed. Reyna Mathis was sentenced to 60 days in jail for assaulting an officer, the report states, which she disputes. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. Officer Charles Anderson. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. Mathis, who is black, said he became displeased when he saw the Confederate flags, and the KKK application was a deal-breaker for making an offer on the house. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. I said I cannot in good conscience bring him back here and put him on the streets of this town, Lewis told Calhoun. Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in. Reyna went to jail for the incident. / CBS/AP. 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. Anderson was pursuing 23-year-old Julius Johnson during a traffic stop on Sept. 23, 2009. 13 On Your Side obtained a separation agreement between the City of Muskegon and Charles Anderson through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. Mathis said in the post that he and his wife, Reyna, had been house hunting for more than a month and thought the house "would be perfect" for them. There was another incident involving the Mathises themselves, who said they didnt realize their run-in was with Anderson, in which Reyna Mathis initially was charged with assaulting Anderson. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? The department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. "If he had just been anybody else," he said, "I wouldve just told my wife, you know, lets put an offer in on the house.". A report by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague found that Julius Johnson hit Anderson in the head with a police radio and "another blunt object" and noted that Anderson was forced to get a . He will not be paid, and has not been, since. 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.. The Muskegon Police Department announced on Aug. 8 that it had opened an internal investigation after a social media post was "brought to its attention" accusing the veteran officer of "being in possession of certain items associated with a white supremacy group.". 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. Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the couple's claims, the police department said. Because he was a police officer, it was my moral obligation to say something about it.. He cant say anything right now, Ms. Anderson said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. 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. Robertson says Anderson is the officer who made the arrest. The city announced on Aug. 8 that Officer Anderson, who is white and had been with the department for more than two decades, had been placed on administrative leave after he was found in possession of certain items associated with a white supremacist group. That announcement came one day after Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook the photo of the application, which is blank. All parties agree not to file suit, submit charge, claim, or complaint to any agency, court, or judicial forum. In 2009, Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department in Michigan was terminated on Thursday. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . Anderson was fired from the department on Sept. 12, following a lengthy investigation into the accusation. 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. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. Though Mathis did not identify Anderson by name in his post, commenters did. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. Rob Mathis posted a picture of the framed KKK application on Facebook, at the time knowing the home belonged to a Muskegon Police officer. In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. Technically, he signed a separation agreement and walked away with his pension and health insurance. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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.. He said in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon, Michigan. Amy.Gerard3@mcd911.net Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. Anderson served on the Muskegon police force since 1997. All Rights Reserved. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. Nothing was revealed to us that shocked us, Chief Lewis said of 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 In it, Lewis said Anderson is seen, seemingly unprovoked, shoving an elderly woman to the ground in an act Lewis found just inappropriatejust wrong., He also considered the concerns about Anderson that other officers had confided in the chief and an incident where Anderson told a female business owner to shut up, he told This American Life.. MUSKEGON, MI - Former Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson vehemently denied being a racist and told police investigators that the Ku Klux Klan application found in his home was an. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application "I feel as though we are being punished because of something we saw in a home that we never asked to see.". Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. The way things are now, everybody is offended over something, and who knows what that might be? she said. 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. He said if Robert and Reyna Mathis had contacted him, he would have explained why he had those items and apologized. 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. Follow Micah Walker on Twitter:@Micah_walker701. Radio producer Ben Calhoun explored how the Mathises were negatively impacted by the case, other complaints regarding Andersons interaction with Black citizens and the difficulty in rooting out racist officers. A white Michigan police officer fired after a framed Ku Klux Klan application and Confederate flags were found in his home, denied being a racist in an inquiry into the items and said he collected antiques and memorabilia linked to The Dukes of Hazzard television series. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI The case of a Muskegon police officer fired after Confederate flags and KKK memorabilia were found in his home was the subject of a two-part series by the This American Life radio program that examines the difficulty of rooting racism out of police forces. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) A Muskegon police officer is under investigation and on paid administrative leave after items associated with a white supremacy group were found at his home. 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. 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. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Charles Anderson was placed on leave last month after a prospective home buyer said they saw a Ku Klux Klan application and Confederate flags in his house. "We would not take back what weve done no matter how weve been treated or portrayed," Reyna Mathis said. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. 2023 City of Muskegon. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson served his department for 22 years. Anderson adamantly denied he is a part of the KKK and pointed out that as a Catholic, he would be considered "a target" of the hate group. She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. Lewis was not sure if an officer keeping such items in his home would violate department policies. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. 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. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net In the first case, Robert was pulled over by Anderson for speeding, while Reyna was in the passenger seat. He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. 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. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. I need a completed internal investigation.. 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. They also had seen Andersons Muskegon Police uniform and realized a police officer owned the home, the couple said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. 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 Community Grant Program Details + Application After he posted the picture of the application and the messages poured in, he said, he was trying to explain all of this to my 12-year-old daughter., Its a bad apple, not all law enforcement, Mr. Mathis said. I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order does not specifically ban private displays of racist materials, MLive reports. 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