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grievance Anderson and the Police Officers Labor Council filed against the city following the firing will be withdrawn. Ext. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson will retire with full benefits at the end of 2020, according to a separation agreement with the city. 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. 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. Though Muskegon has a majority white population, over 31% of residents are Black. In 2009, Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old unarmed Black man Julius Allen-Ray Johnson. Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. 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. Nothing was revealed to us that shocked us, Chief Lewis said of the investigation. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. application had drawn hundreds of messages, some supporting what he had done and others condemning or threatening him. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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 . Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. Officer Charles Anderson was terminated after a disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday afternoon, Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told NBC News. Robert was issued a citation and released from the scene. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice on March 20, 2019. I need a completed internal investigation.". 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. His post went viral. 13 On Your Side obtained a separation agreement between the City of Muskegon and Charles Anderson through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. Mathis, 52, a U.S. Army veteran, has said he felt morally obligated to report what he had witnessed. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. The document was obtained by 13 On Your Side through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request this week. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. 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. "I was just so disgusted," Mathis told MLive.com. However, it does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would compromise public trust. 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. Tim.Thielbar@mcd911.net Anyone can read what you share. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Monday Thursday: 8:00am 5:30pm ", Example video title will go here for this video. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. The department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. We hope that you find the information on our website helpful and easy to find. If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. This prompted calls for the firing of the 24-year force . 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. In the first case, Robert was pulled over by Anderson for speeding, while Reyna was in the passenger seat. 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. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. Hilson said the investigation's results will drive reconsideration of the 2009 case, according to MLive.com. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. Through the professional practice of law enforcement and in partnership with our citizenry, we will create and maintain a safe and secure community; protecting life and property, reducing crime, responding with compassion and establishing a high level of public trust that together improves the quality of life in our community. Reyna Mathis, the realtor and Anderson's colleagues were also interviewed for the report. August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM 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. 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. He said if Robert and Reyna Mathis had contacted him, he would have explained why he had those items and apologized. Lewis was not sure if an officer keeping such items in his home would violate department policies. 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. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. The way things are now, everybody is offended over something, and who knows what that might be? she said. 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. 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. They said friends of their 12-year-old daughter told her their parents wouldnt let them talk to her. Because he was a police officer, it was my moral obligation to say something about it.. She was found to be intoxicated and wasarrested by Anderson for two Fail to Appear bench warrants. Anderson said he feared for his life, according to the findings of an investigation report created by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague. The inquiry into Anderson unearthed new complaints made against him that Lewis said will be investigated, according to the report. His charges included resisting an officer and fleeing. He also said that the police had warned him about a death threat. 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. The City of Muskegon released a more than 400-page report on Monday that includes transcripts of interviews with. 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. 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. Ten years ago, Officer Anderson shot and killed Julius Johnson, an unarmed black man, during a foot chase. MUSKEGON, Mich. A white Muskegon police officer who displayed Ku Klux Klan memorabilia inside his home, which was up for sale, will retire with benefits from the department at the end of the year. He was cleared of wrongdoing in the 2009 shooting of an unarmed black man, who, an investigation found, used Anderson's police radio and . All Rights Reserved. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. Michigan police officer fired after a framed Ku Klux Klan application, was fired from the Muskegon Police Department. This dental device was sold to fix patients' jaws. 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. 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. 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. However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. 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. 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.. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. ARPA Details Anderson said the reason for the KKK application is related to his passion for U.S. history from the late 1800s to the 1960s. 1117, Patrick Vandommelen She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD) The Muskegon police officer who had Ku Klux Klan memorabilia in his home has lost his job. 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. "We would not take back what weve done no matter how weve been treated or portrayed," Reyna Mathis said. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? Though Mathis did not identify Anderson by name in his post, commenters did. "I was like 'Oh my god! 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. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214761835347198&set=a.1058959801946&type=3. RELATED: The. The paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. He said that he and his wife, brother and son had toured the officers house in early August with a realtor. 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. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. 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.. 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. "I don't know. 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. 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. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on September 12 following an investigation after potential homebuyers said they saw a . 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. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. I wanted to shield her from this.. Crime Prevention Association of Michigan (CPAM), Address1990 E. Apple AvenueMuskegon, MI 49442, Office HoursMonday-Friday 8:00 AM 4:45 PM (Closed 1:00 PM 2:00 PM for Lunch Hour), ContactPhone: (231) 777-1666(For Non-Emergencies Only), Tim A. Thielbar 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. Reyna went to jail for the incident. Still, the couple said, they have no regrets in reporting what they witnessed. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. He mentioned seeing Confederate flags on the walls, dining room table and garage. The shooting was determined to be an act of self-defense. 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. application hanging on the wall. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. All Rights Reserved. Email news@13onyourside.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter. I dont know. (12 minutes) 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. 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. 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. They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. 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. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent Ku Klux Klan document was seen framed on a wall of his home. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. 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. And when he went upstairs, he saw the framed K.K.K. Anderson told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. The county prosecutor at the time determined that Mr. Anderson had shot in self-defense and cleared him of any wrongdoing. 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. Close alerts, IA 19-06 Official Report Charles Anderson Inquiry with redactions [28MB PDF]. IE 11 is not supported. 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. ARPA Details Peterson refused to provide further details about what was discussed during the disciplinary hearing, but said that a redacted version of the inquiry into . 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. 2023 City of Muskegon. IE 11 is not supported. The report confirmed that the officer had six encounters with Robert and Reyna Mathis, datingto July 2008. 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. Last August Rob Mathis, who is black, toured Anderson's home in Holton with his wife Reyna and a Realtor. Does outline that officers should not conduct themselves in a way that would public!, during a foot chase he said that the Police had warned him about a death threat the,... 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