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. Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that he acted "rudely and disrespectfully" when he arrestedtwo people and usedpepper spray. I need a completed 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. Robert was issued a citation and released from the scene. Mr. Mathis, 52, an Army veteran who is black, said that the picture he had posted on Facebook of the K.K.K. On December 31, 2020 Anderson will have accrued a total of 25 years and two months of service credit. ", Example video title will go here for this video. Ext. Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. 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. 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. I wish we could because it would probably set a lot of things straight," Rachael Anderson told the television station when a reporter came to the couple's door. ARPA Community Grant Program Details + Application The city and Anderson agree neither party will publicly disparage the other party, including, "comments or statements to the press. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. I walked into the most racist home Ive ever been in in my life, Mr. Mathis said. Police in Muskegon, Michigan, launched an internal investigation of officer Charles Anderson last week after the would-be homebuyer, who is black, said he discovered a Confederate flag display and a framed Ku Klux Klan application during a tour of the home. Last August Rob Mathis, who is black, toured Anderson's home in Holton with his wife Reyna and a Realtor. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214761835347198&set=a.1058959801946&type=3. It was basically telling me, whites only to purchase his house. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. 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 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. Records from the Michigan Department of Corrections show Robertson was arrested in Muskegon County in 2006 and served 12 years in prison. 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. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. 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. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent Ku Klux Klan document was seen framed on a wall of his home. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). They also had seen Andersons Muskegon Police uniform and realized a police officer owned the home, the couple said. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. 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. "I don't know. The City of Muskegon has a population of about 37,000, according to census data. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with Anderson and the man who posted images on social media that spurred the investigation, Robert Mathis. "I was like 'Oh my god! 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. He said in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon, Michigan. He also said that the police had warned him about a death threat. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Ext. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. Although details of the investigation have not been released, Jeffrey Lewis, chief of the Police Department and Muskegons director of public safety, told the citys commissioners on Aug. 27, What you saw on social media is pretty much the way it is.. Officer Anderson On the Job. 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. Officer Charles Anderson of the. 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. 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. "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. 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. When Calhoun pressed her on how that might be offensive and scary to some people, Rachel Anderson said that didnt change her opinion. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. I dont know. 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. The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. Anyone can read what you share. Anderson was cleared of any wrongdoing in that 2009 incident. Amy.Gerard3@mcd911.net application hanging on the wall. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment. Because he was a police officer, it was my moral obligation to say something about it.. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. All rights reserved (About Us). 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 way things are now, everybody is offended over something, and who knows what that might be? she said. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. Application Was Found in His Home, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/us/officer-charles-anderson-ku-klux-klan.html. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. However, he did interview Andersons wife, Rachel, about their interest in collecting historic and vintage items. An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. He said that he and his wife, brother and son had toured the officers house in early August with a realtor. According to WZZM-TV, the report gave Peterson enough reason to fire Anderson this month. Officer. Anderson was fired from the department on Sept. 12, following a lengthy investigation into the accusation. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. 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. 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, IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions. The radio program explores other complaints against Anderson, including one in which he ended up pepper-spraying elderly people at a backyard birthday party when he responded to a noise complaint. This prompted calls for the firing of the 24-year force . 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. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. "He can't say anything right now. . 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. Anderson, who had been with the department for more than two decades, denied ever being a KKK member or supporter and said that the Confederate items Mathis saw in his home are a "very small part" of an extensive collection of "Dukes of Hazard memorabilia he has spent decades gathering, according to the report. 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. Long-lost ship found in Lake Huron, confirming tragic story, Ottawa County Board passes motion revising resolution that hired administrative health officer in December, 13 On Your Side Forecast: Minor Wintry Mix This Morning, Consumers Energy restores nearly 90% of state's power, Report: Fired Muskegon officer says he's an antique collector, Residents say Muskegon officer with KKK document has racist history, Threat made against man who found KKK document in Muskegon officer's home, Muskegon NAACP calls for review of officer's arrests and traffic stops. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. Full credit: Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle/AP. Ext. 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. 2023 City of Muskegon. I wanted to shield her from this.. He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. "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.". Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson describes his struggle with Julius Allen-Ray Johnson prior to fatally shooting him on Sept. 23, 2009. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. 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. (12 minutes) The Mathises discuss the backlash they received, including receiving threats and having racial slurs hurled at them. RELATED: The. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson and the city attorney's officereleased a 421-page reporton the investigation of Charles Anderson, as well as his history as a policeofficer before he was fired. 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.". Officer Charles Anderson. 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. 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. Michigan police officer fired after a framed Ku Klux Klan application, was fired from the Muskegon Police Department. 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. Mathis took photos of a framed KKK application and Confederate flags in Anderson's Holton Township house while touring it with his wife, Reyna Mathis, and a realtor in early August. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm 1117, Patrick Vandommelen Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. 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. "I feel as though we are being punished because of something we saw in a home that we never asked to see.". 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. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. He was cleared of wrongdoing in the 2009 shooting of an unarmed black man, who, an investigation found, used Anderson's police radio and . 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 . DETROIT A Michigan police officer was embroiled in controversy last month after a man discovered Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home,which was up for sale. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. 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. 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. 2023 City of Muskegon. Ten years ago, Officer Anderson shot and killed Julius Johnson, an unarmed black man, during a foot chase. Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the couple's claims, the police department said. 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. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. Ext. 13 On Your Side obtained a separation agreement between the City of Muskegon and Charles Anderson through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. They said friends of their 12-year-old daughter told her their parents wouldnt let them talk to her. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. "I was just so disgusted," Mathis told MLive.com. I need a completed internal investigation.. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. Anderson was pursuing 23-year-old Julius Johnson during a traffic stop on Sept. 23, 2009. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. 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 Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order does not specifically ban private displays of racist materials, MLive reports. His post went viral. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net 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. 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. Technically, he signed a separation agreement and walked away with his pension and health insurance. Anderson said the unsigned KKK application from the 1920s is a historic item, purchased from a vendor in Indiana and collected as part of his interest in American history and antiques. A second citizen complaint from 2016 involved a DUI arrest in which Anderson did not secure a vehicle after the arrest and did not return a person's driver's license, according to the report. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP Link copied This is, this is, oh, Im getting out of here,' " he said. Calhoun questions if the Mathises would have had an easier time if Lewis had gone public with his own concerns at the time. 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. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. 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. Rob Mathis posted this photo of a framed Ku Klux Klan application, which he said he had seen hanging in the house of Officer Charles Anderson, on Facebook last month. He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing when the shooting was deemed to be an act of self-defense. A two-part series by the "This American Life" public radio program explores the case of former Muskegon Police Officer Charles Chuck Anderson, shown here in a file photo, 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. In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. She was found to be intoxicated and wasarrested by Anderson for two Fail to Appear bench warrants. 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. IE 11 is not supported. (Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle via AP) Rob Mathis posted a picture of the framed KKK application on Facebook, at the time knowing the home belonged to a Muskegon Police officer. 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. 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 first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. D.J. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. The executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. The man behind the Facebook post, Robert Mathis, uploaded a picture of the KKK document on Facebook on Aug. 7 after touring Andersons home with his wife, Reyna, their two children and a realtor. Mathis said he had received death threats after uploading the images to Facebook. Instead, the city released the more than 400-page investigative report that didnt find any pattern of problems with Black citizens that Lewis said hed uncovered. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, who was beaten in the head. "I told my son, 'let's go, we're getting out of here. According to the findings of an investigation from the county's prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in. 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. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net 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. 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. 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. The Muskegon Police Department Policy and Procedure Order states that officers' decorum and behavior should not "undercut public trust" in the department. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment Monday. ", Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. ARPA Details 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. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. 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.. 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.. Authorities in Michigan may review a white police officer's fatal shooting of a black man in 2009 after an alleged Ku Klux Klan document was seen on display at the officer's house. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site.
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