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. 13 On Your Side obtained a separation agreement between the City of Muskegon and Charles Anderson through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. 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. Mathis, 52, a U.S. Army veteran, has said he felt morally obligated to report what he had witnessed. 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. 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. 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. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment Monday. A report detailing the investigation into Anderson was released online Monday by the. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. 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. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment. ", Example video title will go here for this video. According to the findings of an investigation from the county's prosecutor, Johnson beat Anderson in. Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. 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. 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 of the Muskegon Police Department in Michigan was terminated on Thursday. 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. They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. 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. If you are wondering how the racist material was found in his home, so did we. The inquiry into Anderson unearthed new complaints made against him that Lewis said will be investigated, according to the report. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. 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. 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.. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. 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. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. On December 31, 2020 Anderson will have accrued a total of 25 years and two months of service credit. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. 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.. 1117 1:00 A white Muskegon police officer created a controversy within the city last month after a black man discovered Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, which was up for sale. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in the fatal shooting of Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. 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. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson describes his struggle with Julius Allen-Ray Johnson prior to fatally shooting him on Sept. 23, 2009. 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. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? Officer Charles Anderson. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. 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. 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. 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. 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. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent Ku Klux Klan document was seen framed on a wall of his home. He describes himself as an amateur historian who likes to collect antique items from that time period. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. He also said that the police had warned him about a death threat. 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. 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. I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. This prompted calls for the firing of the 24-year force . 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. 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. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm Ext. Officer. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot loses reelection bid, Fiery train crash in Greece kills dozens, many of them students. Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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 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. Application Was Found in His Home, https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/13/us/officer-charles-anderson-ku-klux-klan.html. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. 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. The department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. 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. 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. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. . In the first case, Robert was pulled over by Anderson for speeding, while Reyna was in the passenger seat. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. I walked into the most racist home Ive ever been in in my life, Mr. Mathis said. 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. / CBS/AP. Reyna was jailedfor obstruction and assault on an officer. 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. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . The executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. 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.. 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. 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. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. ", Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. 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. 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. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. Anderson served on the Muskegon police force since 1997. 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. The document was obtained by 13 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request this week. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM Ext. 1119, Deasha Hill 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. 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. Technically, he signed a separation agreement and walked away with his pension and health insurance. Anderson "loves everything" about the show and has been to the fan convention, Duke Fest, several times. He cant say anything right now, Ms. Anderson said. 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. "We would not take back what weve done no matter how weve been treated or portrayed," Reyna Mathis said. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. "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." 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. All Rights Reserved. They said friends of their 12-year-old daughter told her their parents wouldnt let them talk to her. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! (12 minutes) racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. Still, the couple said, they have no regrets in reporting what they witnessed. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The citizen complaints were investigated by the department and Anderson was exonerated in both cases, the report states. Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook. (Kayla Renie/Muskegon Chronicle via AP) He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing when the shooting was deemed to be an act of self-defense. 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. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. 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. She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. RELATED: Report: Fired Muskegon officer says he's an antique collector. 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. 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. The separation agreement states Anderson will remain on unpaid status until December 30, 2020. Ext. The Ku Klux Klan document Robert Mathis says was on display at Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson's house. Though Mathis did not identify Anderson by name in his post, commenters did. Lewis was not sure if an officer keeping such items in his home would violate department policies. Have a news tip? https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214761835347198&set=a.1058959801946&type=3. An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. 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. 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. Officer Charles Anderson was terminated after a disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday afternoon, Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told NBC News. 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. I was disgusted even being in that house.. Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. I need a completed internal investigation.". His post went viral. Ext. He said the flags are part of his extensive "Dukes of Hazzard" collection. "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.". 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 agreement also means a wrongful termination grievance Anderson and the Police Officers Labor Council filed against the city following the firing will be withdrawn. The table, Mr. Mathis said a death threat warned him about a death threat muskegon police officer anderson administrative leave after apparent. Blunt object table, Mr. Mathis said leave pending an investigation from the county #... 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