Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department officers resign over racist texts

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department racist text messages Estella Patterson Flock cameras civil rights investigation

Several officers from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) have resigned or been suspended following an investigation into racially offensive text messages. The messages, which reportedly included racial slurs and comparisons to a “clan rally,” were discovered during an inquiry into the misuse of Flock camera technology.

Chief Estella Patterson confirmed that five officers—Mateo Juarez, Joseph Kelly, Tredan Maronic, Matthew Osborn, and Alexander Larsen—resigned from the department. A sixth officer, Jeremiah Todman, remains suspended without pay pending a review by the Civil Service Board. A seventh officer, Seth Elliott, resigned in August following an arrest by the North Carolina Bureau of Investigation for allegedly improperly accessing a Flock camera, an incident that triggered the broader investigation.

The FBI is currently investigating potential civil rights violations within the department. Chief Patterson expressed disgust over the findings, noting that the messages showed racial, sexual, and religious bias spanning several years. While the department has not yet found evidence of problematic traffic stops or arrest records linked to these specific officers, the investigation may impact the review of past criminal cases.

Entities

Charlotte · Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department · Estella Patterson · FBI · Seth Elliott

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[○ 1 SOURCE] The involved officers were all from the same 2024 graduating class. www.police1.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Officer Seth Elliott resigned in August after being arrested for allegedly improperly accessing a Flock camera. majicatl.com · midutahradio.com · quepasamedia.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The messages included the use of the 'N-word' and compared the department to a 'clan rally.' majicatl.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Five CMPD officers resigned following the discovery of racist text messages. majicatl.com · midutahradio.com · www.police1.com
[● 2 SOURCES] Jeremiah Todman remains suspended without pay pending a Civil Service Board review. midutahradio.com · quepasamedia.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The text messages contained racial, sexual, and religious bias. www.police1.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The racist messages were uncovered during an investigation into the misuse of Flock cameras. majicatl.com · midutahradio.com
[○ 1 SOURCE] The FBI is investigating potential civil rights violations within the CMPD. www.police1.com