Mr. Mathis said he reached out to Officer Anderson and Chief Lewis but never heard from them. Ten years ago, Officer Anderson shot and killed Julius Johnson, an unarmed black man, during a foot chase. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. 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. Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net In October2008, Reyna Mathis was involved in a bar fight and accused of assaulting another person. 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. Ext. The report confirmed that the officer had six encounters with Robert and Reyna Mathis, datingto July 2008. Amy.Gerard3@mcd911.net Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that he acted "rudely and disrespectfully" when he arrestedtwo people and usedpepper spray. 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. The police department is doing its due diligence with the investigation, Chief Jeffrey Lewis told MLive.com. His wife, Rachael Anderson, told WOOD-TV her husband isn't a Klan member. / CBS/AP. 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. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. 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. 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. 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. 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. D.J. 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. 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. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Official Internal Investigations Report - Officer Anderson September 24, 2019 IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions [28MB PDF] Previous Next Document Search Stay Connected Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. 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. 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. 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. She was found to be intoxicated and wasarrested by Anderson for two Fail to Appear bench warrants. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. 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. 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. An unsettling discovery in the home of a local police officer rocks an entire city. "I don't know. 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. Close alerts. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. 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. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. "He can't say anything right now. racist memorabilia found in his home that was for sale, was placed on administrative leave last month. Have a news tip? "This whole situation is very disheartening," 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. 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. 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. Johnson had scuffled with Anderson, who was beaten in the head. ", Example video title will go here for this video. 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. 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. 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. 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 terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. 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. 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. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. 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. He posted a picture on Facebook of a framed KKK application he found. Anderson said the reason for the KKK application is related to his passion for U.S. history from the late 1800s to the 1960s. All parties agree not to file suit, submit charge, claim, or complaint to any agency, court, or judicial forum. Neither Anderson nor the officers union, the Police Officers Labor Council, could immediately be reached for comment. Records from the Michigan Department of Corrections show Robertson was arrested in Muskegon County in 2006 and served 12 years in prison. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. Anderson "loves everything" about the show and has been to the fan convention, Duke Fest, several times. 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. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. He describes himself as an amateur historian who likes to collect antique items from that time period. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. He was subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing when the shooting was deemed to be an act of self-defense. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. "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.". Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. 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. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. It is essential that all members, in the execution of their duties, act not for themselves but for the good of the public. 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. All Rights Reserved. Mathis was disturbed not only by the flag but also because Anderson was a police officer. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. Officer Charles Anderson testifies in Muskegon, Michigan, March 20, 2019. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. We hope that you find the information on our website helpful and easy to find. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. 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.". aquarius symbol copy and paste, To date with more stories like this framed KKK application he found another person Acomplaint in 2010 alleged that acted... 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