Mathis said he had received death threats after uploading the images to Facebook. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. 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. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. Hilson had previously told MLive that the results of the police department investigation will play a role in determining whether the prosecutors office will reopen the 2009 case. The stationreported that since posting the KKK application on Facebook, Robert and Reyna Mathis have receiveddeath threats. If you are wondering how the racist material was found in his home, so did we. Anderson served on the Muskegon police force since 1997. They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. "The emotional health and safety of this community is what is most important to me," Lewis said Friday, adding that the city and county "are very serious about this." Anyone can read what you share. 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. The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. ARPA Details Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in that 2009 incident. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order does not specifically ban private displays of racist materials, MLive reports. "He can't say anything right now. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson served his department for 22 years. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. Officer Charles Anderson testifies in Muskegon, Michigan, March 20, 2019. 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. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, who was beaten in the head. / CBS/AP. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. Rob Mathis posted a picture of the framed KKK application on Facebook, at the time knowing the home belonged to a Muskegon Police officer. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. The department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. Amy.Gerard3@mcd911.net Lewis questioned Andersons claim that the Confederate flags in his home were part of an extensive Dukes of Hazzard television show collection, telling Calhoun that Anderson never produced requested photos of the collection and so That bucket didnt hold water.. However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. . "This whole situation is very disheartening," Reyna Mathis said. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice on March 20, 2019. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. 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. Close alerts. The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! Ext. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. In the report, Mathis said he toured the home because he and Reyna were looking for a residence that had a significant amount of land so the two of them, along with their 12-year-old daughter and 21-year-old son, could spend more time outdoors. Police officers will, therefore, avoid any conduct that might compromise integrity and thus undercut the public confidence in the officer or this law or this law enforcement agency, it says. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. 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. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson was placed on paid administrative leave after a house hunter who was viewing the officer's home said he saw a framed Ku Klux Klan application and multiple Confederate flags. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's employment was terminated during a disciplinary hearing that wrapped up at approximately 3 p.m., Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told MLive. I wanted to shield her from this.. In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. 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. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. "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.". Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. The police department is doing its due diligence with the investigation, Chief Jeffrey Lewis told MLive.com. In addition, Lewis said he reviewed the case of Andersons fatal shooting of Julius Johnson, an unarmed Black man, who investigators determined was getting the best of Anderson in a physical fight after fleeing from a traffic stop. Nothing was revealed to us that shocked us, Chief Lewis said of the investigation. The city's investigation claims items with images of Confederate flags at Anderson's home were part of a "Dukes of Hazzard" collection. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson describes his struggle with Julius Allen-Ray Johnson prior to fatally shooting him on Sept. 23, 2009. 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 . 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. Anderson "loves everything" about the show and has been to the fan convention, Duke Fest, several times. Hilson, Muskegons current county prosecutor, told The Muskegon Chronicle that he might re-evaluate the 2009 shooting, depending on the results of the Police Departments internal investigation. . 1116, Address:1990 E. Apple AveMuskegon, MI 49442, Hours:Monday Thursday: 7:30 am 6:00 pmclosed for lunch from 1:00 to 1:30Fridays by appointment only, 2022 All Rights Reserved, Charter Township of Muskegon, Website Designed by Shumaker Technology group. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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. The way things are now, everybody is offended over something, and who knows what that might be? she said. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Still, the couple said, they have no regrets in reporting what they witnessed. I was disgusted even being in that house.. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net 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. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. Officer Charles Anderson of the. Ext. Lewis was not sure if an officer keeping such items in his home would violate department policies. 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. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP Link copied It was basically telling me, whites only to purchase his house. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. 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. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm Last August Rob Mathis, who is black, toured Anderson's home in Holton with his wife Reyna and a Realtor. The agreement also means a wrongful termination grievance Anderson and the Police Officers Labor Council filed against the city following the firing will be withdrawn. He also said that the police had warned him about a death threat. However, he did interview Andersons wife, Rachel, about their interest in collecting historic and vintage items. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. Technically, he signed a separation agreement and walked away with his pension and health insurance. Mr. Mathis, 52, an Army veteran who is black, said that the picture he had posted on Facebook of the K.K.K. Because he was a police officer, it was my moral obligation to say something about it.. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. When asked if hecontactedone of the owners, Mathis said he did not. "I was just so disgusted," Mathis told MLive.com. 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. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that he acted "rudely and disrespectfully" when he arrestedtwo people and usedpepper spray. Mathis was disturbed not only by the flag but also because Anderson was a police officer. 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 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. When Calhoun pressed her on how that might be offensive and scary to some people, Rachel Anderson said that didnt change her opinion. 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. (Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle via AP) Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. 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. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. . All rights reserved (About Us). application hanging on the wall. Ext. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. 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. They said friends of their 12-year-old daughter told her their parents wouldnt let them talk to her. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson and the city attorney's office released a 421-page report on the investigation of Charles Anderson, as well as his history as a police officer before he. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. Following Mathis' allegations, Anderson, who has been on the force more than 20 years, was put on leave indefinitely, City Manager Frank Peterson said Thursday. ", Example video title will go here for this video. He said if Robert and Reyna Mathis had contacted him, he would have explained why he had those items and apologized. An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Among new information Calhoun uncovered was the fact Lewis conducted his own investigation apart from the formal one conducted by the police departments internal affairs team that found, in the chiefs words, Anderson seemed to have a lot of problems with African Americans throughout his career., In coming to that conclusion, Lewis referenced earlier concerns about Anderson and recounted a cell phone video of Anderson he had seen online about a year earlier. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department in Michigan was terminated on Thursday. The report states they refused to comply with Andersons commands and Reyna Mathis "struck him in the face and eye with her hand." His post went viral. 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 told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. Now, the. 1894 shipwreck found in Lake Huron, confirming "powerful, tragic story", Garland to face Congress amid ongoing special counsel investigations, Eli Lilly to cut insulin prices by 70%, cap monthly costs at $35, FBI chief says agency feels pandemic likely started with Chinese lab leak, Three officers shot, standoff follows in Kansas City, Mo., police say, Vanessa Bryant, family settle claims over Kobe crash site photos for $28.5M. The City of Muskegon has a population of about 37,000, according to census data. Reyna went to jail for the incident. 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. The Mathises said they eventually decided to post on Facebook what they had seen out of concern that Black citizens could run into trouble with Anderson if they encountered him on the streets. 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. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. After seeing the framed KKK document, Knights of the Ku Klux Klan Application for Citizenship, Army veteran and prospective homebuyer Rob Mathis took to Facebook to share what he saw. 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. Mathis, who is Black, said he felt disgusted by what he saw. This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. Hilson told the outlet in Aug. I guess I cant answer that question. Get the top DEI news delivered straight to your inbox, Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home, fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 23, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 17, Race, Homelessness and the Role of Corporate Social Responsibility, How Companies Are Celebrating Black History Month, 5 Biggest News Stories of the Week: February 9. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. Rob and Reyna Mathis, who live in Muskegon Township, said they felt a range of emotions, including anger, sadness and shame, after they saw the Ku Klux Klan document inside the house in Holton Township, about 20 miles northeast of Muskegon. 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. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. I need a completed internal investigation.". 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. 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. "I don't know. Robert was issued a citation and released from the scene. Ebony Davis, a social justice advocate working with the Mathis family to push for law enforcement transparency, said: We want to bridge the gap between the community and the police, because the next generation has to live in this community, a community thats pretty diverse., Michigan Police Officer Is Terminated After K.K.K. 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