They both exited the vehicle and refused the officer's orders. All Rights Reserved. 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. MUSKEGON, MI - Former Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson vehemently denied being a racist and told police investigators that the Ku Klux Klan application found in his home was an. The former officer said the reason for having the items is his love for history anda classic TV show. Anderson was placed on leave pending an investigation that began Aug. 8. 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. 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. 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. Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. 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. Related Story: Michigan Police Officer Charles Anderson on Leave After KKK Items Found in his Home. Related: Cop fired for KKK, Confederate flag memorabilia signs separation agreement. "Whether or not officer Anderson has racist tendencies or not, would that move the needle one way or another? 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 . 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. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. She said she only realized after the report was released Monday that the officer she was accused of assaulting was Anderson. He said his wife was upset, and he told her, Were getting out of here. The realtor was very apologetic, he added. 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. 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. Wildfire threats loom:California utility cuts power to more than 20,000 customers. 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. Prosecutors:US Army soldier planned to kill 'antifa' activists, bomb a major news network. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. Mathis, who is Black, said he felt disgusted by what he saw. 2023 City of Muskegon. 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 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. I need a completed internal investigation.. Anderson had worked at the Muskegon Police Department for 20 years prior to being terminated. This is a Klan house, really, we have to go right now.' 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. Effective December 31, 2020, Anderson's employment with the city will end by way of his retirement. I guess I can't answer that question," Hilson told the newspaper. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. If you have any questions or are looking for further information, please call, send us an email, or visit us. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed. Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson has been placed on leave pending an investigation into the couple's claims, the police department said. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on September 12 following an investigation after potential homebuyers said they saw a . His post went viral. Patrick.Vandommelen2@mcd911.net Anderson told MLive.com he was advised not to comment amid the investigation. The report states they refused to comply with Andersons commands and Reyna Mathis "struck him in the face and eye with her hand." Cookie Settings/Do Not Sell My Personal Information. The official investigation by the city of Muskegon into the officer's past gets underway- and we have a transcript of what went down! However, Muskegon County Prosecutor D.J. He said in a news interview with MLive that Reyna is a native of Muskegon, Michigan. Anyone can read what you share. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. In the first case, Robert was pulled over by Anderson for speeding, while Reyna was in the passenger seat. Last August Rob Mathis, who is black, toured Anderson's home in Holton with his wife Reyna and a Realtor. Charles Anderson was fired from the Muskegon Police Department on Sept. 13. She was found to be intoxicated and wasarrested by Anderson for two Fail to Appear bench warrants. Janelle Griffith is a national reporter for NBC News focusing on issues of race and policing. . She was sentenced to 60 days and $414 in fines. 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. Officer Charles Anderson was terminated after a disciplinary hearing concluded Thursday afternoon, Muskegon City Manager Frank Peterson told NBC News. Have a news tip? 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 executive summary noted two citizen complaints against Anderson that the department was aware of. Peterson refused to provide further details about what was discussed during the disciplinary hearing, but said that a redacted version of the inquiry into . ARPA Details I first read about this a couple years ago in the newspaper, the story with the attention-grabbing power of a bad joke. 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. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. Kayla Renie / Muskegon Chronicle via AP file. As the family walked around, he said, his wife noticed a police officers coat, and he saw two more Confederate flags in the garage. During Anderson's remaining time on no-pay statues he'll not have access to employment-related benefits. 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. Anderson was pursuing 23-year-old Julius Johnson during a traffic stop on Sept. 23, 2009. 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. "I was like 'Oh my god! [Go here for more about police violence and unrest]. . He said if Robert and Reyna Mathis had contacted him, he would have explained why he had those items and apologized. The authorities said that Mr. Johnson had repeatedly hit the officer in the head with a blunt object. He will not be paid, and has not been, since. That was the owner of the house, Officer Charles Anderson, who, at the time, was a 21-year veteran of the Muskegon Police Department. Now, the. Officer. Address Police Department City Hall1st Floor 933 Terrace St Muskegon, MI 49440 Hours Monday - Thursday: 8:00am - 5:30pm Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Closed Phone (231) 724-6903 Fax (231) 724-2043 Send a message Document Search Stay Connected 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. Anderson is on paid administrative leave after an apparent . 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. If you are wondering how the racist material was found in his home, so did we. 1119 Police Clerk Deasha Hill Deasha.Hill@mcd911.net Ext. 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. Mathis posted pictures of what he saw on Facebook and discovered the home belonged to Muskegon police officer Charles "Chuck" Anderson. "I don't know. 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.. Anderson said the reason for the KKK application is related to his passion for U.S. history from the late 1800s to the 1960s. Officer Charles Anderson. Muskegon Police Officer Charles Anderson will retire with full benefits at the end of 2020, according to a separation agreement with the city. They shall respect and protect the rights of individuals and perform their services with honesty, zeal, courage, discretion, integrity, dedication and sound judgment. Last month, Anderson was outed when a couple, the Mathises, toured his home that was for sale. 2019 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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 Reyna Mathis was sentenced to 60 days in jail for assaulting an officer, the report states, which she disputes. 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. This prompted calls for the firing of the 24-year force . It also states officers have a duty to avoid, both on and off duty, conduct that reflects unfavorably on the department, including any behavior that brings the department disrepute, discredits the individual as a member of the department, or impairs the operation, effectiveness or efficiency of the department and/or its members.. All rights reserved (About Us). 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. 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