Threat made against black man who found KKK memorabilia in police officer’s home
Updated 8:39 AM;
Posted Aug 12, 5:19 PM
By Ben Solis
MUSKEGON, MI – Muskegon area police have confirmed a threat was made on social media against an African American man who found Ku Klux Klan memorabilia and Confederate flags inside a police officer’s home that was for sale.
The man, Rob Mathis, told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle on Monday that Muskegon Township police on Sunday, Aug. 11, notified him and his family about a credible threat against their lives.
Muskegon Township Police Chief David Wypa confirmed that an officer from his department visited Mathis at his home Sunday to tell him about the threat. Wypa added that his department was first notified by Muskegon city police who had been notified of it by TV news station FOX 17.
The threat directed at Mathis and his wife, Reyna, who live in Muskegon Township, was posted on FOX 17′s Facebook page as a comment on a story regarding the recent suspension of Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson.
Anderson, 48, was placed on paid leave Thursday, Aug. 8, after the Mathis family said they saw several Confederate flags and a framed historical KKK application during a tour of Anderson’s Holton Township home, which is for sale. The Mathises were taken through the house with a real-estate agent because they were interested in buying it.
Mathis shared a photo on Facebook depicting a printed version of the threat that was hand delivered to him by Muskegon Township police. The threat – which has since been deleted by FOX 17 – reads: “Those people looking at this house that took the picture, better open their eyes in the back of their head.”
Muskegon police are conducting an inquiry into the items Mathis said he saw in Anderson’s home. The inquiry will determine if Anderson violated any city policies.
The Muskegon County prosecutor’s office told MLive that it will wait for the results of the inquiry before it decides whether to reevaluate a 2009 incident in which Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old black man. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in what was determined to be an act of self-defense.
Mathis told MLive on Aug. 8 that he and Reyna Mathis felt “mortified” by what they found inside Anderson’s home.
Mathis said Monday that he was disheartened to hear about the threat, but he was happy that police were watching the situation closely.
“This is what the police department is supposed to do,” said Mathis, who is a veteran of the U.S. Army. “My Facebook feed is full of (negative comments) and I can’t keep up with it all. I’m happy they were willing to do that.”
As for the comment that caught police attention, Mathis said he viewed it as credible threat.
“I took it as a terroristic threat, myself,” Mathis said. “I think it’s credible, but this situation is so new to me and my family. We’re taking all threats seriously.”
Wypa said Muskegon Township police are not actively monitoring threats against Mathis.
https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/08/threat-made-against-black-man-who-found-kkk-memorabilia-in-police-officers-home.html
Updated 8:39 AM;
Posted Aug 12, 5:19 PM
By Ben Solis
MUSKEGON, MI – Muskegon area police have confirmed a threat was made on social media against an African American man who found Ku Klux Klan memorabilia and Confederate flags inside a police officer’s home that was for sale.
The man, Rob Mathis, told MLive/Muskegon Chronicle on Monday that Muskegon Township police on Sunday, Aug. 11, notified him and his family about a credible threat against their lives.
Muskegon Township Police Chief David Wypa confirmed that an officer from his department visited Mathis at his home Sunday to tell him about the threat. Wypa added that his department was first notified by Muskegon city police who had been notified of it by TV news station FOX 17.
The threat directed at Mathis and his wife, Reyna, who live in Muskegon Township, was posted on FOX 17′s Facebook page as a comment on a story regarding the recent suspension of Muskegon police officer Charles Anderson.
Anderson, 48, was placed on paid leave Thursday, Aug. 8, after the Mathis family said they saw several Confederate flags and a framed historical KKK application during a tour of Anderson’s Holton Township home, which is for sale. The Mathises were taken through the house with a real-estate agent because they were interested in buying it.
Mathis shared a photo on Facebook depicting a printed version of the threat that was hand delivered to him by Muskegon Township police. The threat – which has since been deleted by FOX 17 – reads: “Those people looking at this house that took the picture, better open their eyes in the back of their head.”
Muskegon police are conducting an inquiry into the items Mathis said he saw in Anderson’s home. The inquiry will determine if Anderson violated any city policies.
The Muskegon County prosecutor’s office told MLive that it will wait for the results of the inquiry before it decides whether to reevaluate a 2009 incident in which Anderson fatally shot a 23-year-old black man. Anderson was cleared in late 2009 of any wrongdoing in what was determined to be an act of self-defense.
Mathis told MLive on Aug. 8 that he and Reyna Mathis felt “mortified” by what they found inside Anderson’s home.
Mathis said Monday that he was disheartened to hear about the threat, but he was happy that police were watching the situation closely.
“This is what the police department is supposed to do,” said Mathis, who is a veteran of the U.S. Army. “My Facebook feed is full of (negative comments) and I can’t keep up with it all. I’m happy they were willing to do that.”
As for the comment that caught police attention, Mathis said he viewed it as credible threat.
“I took it as a terroristic threat, myself,” Mathis said. “I think it’s credible, but this situation is so new to me and my family. We’re taking all threats seriously.”
Wypa said Muskegon Township police are not actively monitoring threats against Mathis.
https://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/2019/08/threat-made-against-black-man-who-found-kkk-memorabilia-in-police-officers-home.html
