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). 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. Lawsuits claim it wrecked their teeth. Make it easy to keep up to date with more stories like this. RELATED: Report: Fired Muskegon officer says he's an antique collector. All Rights Reserved. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. First published on August 12, 2019 / 10:44 AM. . 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. Anyone can read what you share. 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. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. "I feel as though we are being punished because of something we saw in a home that we never asked to see.". 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.". Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. Mathis, 52, a U.S. Army veteran, has said he felt morally obligated to report what he had witnessed. ARPA Details The city and Anderson agree neither party will publicly disparage the other party, including, "comments or statements to the press. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. Charles Anderson was terminated after a Thursday morning hearing. 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 department assures the public that they are investigating the allegations. I need a completed internal investigation.". 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. 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 former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. The comments on that post exploded, Calhoun said, leading to the citys decision to place Anderson on leave and conduct the investigation. 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. 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. 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. 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. He cant say anything right now, Ms. Anderson said. Reyna Mathis was sentenced to 60 days in jail for assaulting an officer, the report states, which she disputes. The stationreported that since posting the KKK application on Facebook, Robert and Reyna Mathis have receiveddeath threats. 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. RELATED: The. 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. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In his Facebook post, Mathis said he also saw Confederate flags throughout the home. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice, on March 20, 2019. [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. 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. However, he did interview Andersons wife, Rachel, about their interest in collecting historic and vintage items. The first thing I noticed walking through the dining room was a Confederate flag placemat on the table, Mr. Mathis said. Calhoun questions if the Mathises would have had an easier time if Lewis had gone public with his own concerns at the time. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10214761835347198&set=a.1058959801946&type=3. 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. I need a completed internal investigation.. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. 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. Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department gives his testimony at the Muskegon County Hall of Justice on March 20, 2019. Anderson was fired from the department on Sept. 12, following a lengthy investigation into the accusation. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. 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. Radio producer Ben Calhoun explored how the Mathises were negatively impacted by the case, other complaints regarding Andersons interaction with Black citizens and the difficulty in rooting out racist officers. Officer Charles Anderson testifies in Muskegon, Michigan, March 20, 2019. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. The shooting was determined to be an act of self-defense. D.J. Anderson said he feared for his life, according to the findings of an investigation report created by then-Muskegon County Prosecutor Tony Tague. The former police officer did not remove the item from the wall because he forgot it was in his antique collection room. 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. Former Muskegon police officer Charles Chuck Anderson was fired 10 days ago following an internal affairs investigation into the complaint by citizen Rob Mathis who saw a framed KKK. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. Peterson said the entire inquiry report would likely be released sometime next week. Though Mathis did not identify Anderson by name in his post, commenters did. "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.". Rob Mathis posted a picture of the framed KKK application on Facebook, at the time knowing the home belonged to a Muskegon Police officer. 8617, Amy Gerard Officer Charles Anderson of the Muskegon Police Department in Michigan was terminated on Thursday. 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. During Anderson's 22-year career as a police officer, he had two complaints made against him. Sign up for email updates from the City of Muskegon, including information on major events, traffic and other important city projects. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. 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 paper reported that Anderson was cleared of fatally shooting a black man, Julius Johnson, 23, following a traffic stop in 2009. All rights reserved (About Us). Rob Mathis, the prospective homebuyer, posted on Facebook. He bought the application about six years ago in Indiana. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent Ku Klux Klan document was seen framed on a wall of his home. 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. On a wall of his home or visit us March 20, 2019 the stationreported that since posting the application... 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