Charlotte police officers resign over racist texts, prompting FBI probe and review of arrests

Chief Estella Patterson says messages came to light during investigation into misuse of Flock camera system

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

Five officers have resigned and a sixth remains suspended from the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department after allegedly exchanging racist text messages, including slurs and an apparent reference to a Ku Klux Klan rally. Chief Estella Patterson has launched a full review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records and requested the FBI conduct a civil rights investigation.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) released personnel files on Monday identifying five former officers who resigned after an internal investigation found they had exchanged racist texts. A sixth officer, Jeremiah Todman, hired in 2022, remains suspended pending the outcome of the investigation and a civil service board review. A seventh officer, Seth Elliot, resigned in August after being alleged to have improperly viewed data from the department's Flock camera system and was arrested for illegally accessing a government computer.

The messages came to light during an investigation into misuse of the Flock camera system, Chief Estella Patterson said at a news conference on Thursday. She described the content as "deeply troubling" but did not disclose the messages themselves. According to ABC News, the texts contained racist slurs and alleged use of the N-word. Local outlet WSOC reported that one message likened the officers to a "clan rally," an apparent reference to the white nationalist Ku Klux Klan.

The five former officers, Mateo Juarez, Joseph Kelly, Tredan Maronic, Matthew Osborn and Alexander Larsen, were all hired in 2023 or 2024. Patterson said she had cited them for termination. According to WSOC, one was president of their recruit class and another had received an employee of the month award earlier this year.

"As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization," Patterson said. She added that the officers were hired before her tenure as chief but that she is committed to ensuring the behavior is not systemic.

Patterson said she intends to seek revocation of the officers' state law licenses and has begun auditing body-worn camera footage and arrest records. "We will not allow the misconduct of a few to define the whole," she said. None of the officers have been charged with any criminal wrongdoing related to the text exchanges. ABC News reported that it was unclear if any of them except Elliot had retained an attorney; Elliot's lawyer did not return a request for comment.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The alleged racist texts undermine public trust in law enforcement and raise questions about systemic racism within the department
The review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records could reveal whether the officers' bias affected their interactions with the public
The FBI civil rights investigation could lead to federal charges if evidence of discriminatory policing is found

Background

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department serves one of the largest cities in the southeastern United States. Chief Estella Patterson was appointed in 2022 and is the first Black woman to lead the department. The Flock camera system is an automated license plate recognition network used by the department. The investigation into misuse of that system uncovered the racist text messages, which were exchanged on personal devices or department channels.

Key Perspectives

Chief Estella Patterson: Emphasized accountability and transparency, describing the messages as painful and disheartening. She is pursuing termination, license revocation, and a full audit of officer conduct. Concerned community members: The chief acknowledged community fears about racism within the ranks and has promised to address them through audits and external investigations. The accused officers: None have commented publicly or been charged. Their attorneys have not responded to requests for comment, and no defense has been offered in the source material.

What to Watch

The outcome of the FBI civil rights investigation and whether federal charges are filed
Results of the audit of body-worn camera footage and arrest records, particularly any patterns of biased policing
The civil service board's decision on the suspended officer, Jeremiah Todman
Whether any of the former officers challenge their termination or license revocation in court

Sources

Discovery of North Carolina police officers’ alleged racist texts prompts review of arrest records · World news | The Guardian

Checked

10 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 6 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says the resignations prompted an FBI probe.World news | The Guardian: “The discovery of the “deeply troubling” messages, said Estella Patterson, the police chief, at a news conference on Thursday, prompted a full review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records of the officers – and a request to the FBI for a civil rights investigation.”
Partly supportedThe headline says five officers resigned over racist texts, stated as fact rather than alleged texts.World news | The Guardian: “Five officers resigned recently from a North Carolina police agency – and a sixth remained suspended – after they allegedly exchanged racist texts.”
SupportedThe chief said messages came to light during an investigation into misuse of the Flock camera system.World news | The Guardian: “The chief of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police department (CMPD) said the messages came to light during an investigation into misuse of its Flock camera system.”
Partly supportedThe chief described the content of the messages as “deeply troubling.”World news | The Guardian: “The discovery of the “deeply troubling” messages, said Estella Patterson, the police chief, at a news conference on Thursday, prompted a full review”
Partly supportedFive officers resigned after an internal investigation found they had exchanged racist texts.World news | The Guardian: “Five officers resigned recently from a North Carolina police agency – and a sixth remained suspended – after they allegedly exchanged racist texts.”
SupportedThe chief launched a full review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records and requested an FBI civil rights investigation.World news | The Guardian: “The discovery of the “deeply troubling” messages, said Estella Patterson, the police chief, at a news conference on Thursday, prompted a full review of body-worn camera footage and arrest records of the officers – and a request to the FBI for a civil rights investigation.”
SupportedOne message likened the officers to a “clan rally,” an apparent reference to the Ku Klux Klan.World news | The Guardian: “The outlet said one of the messages likened the officers to a “clan rally”, an apparent reference to rallies held by the murderous white nationalist Ku Klux Klan.”
SupportedPatterson said, “As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization.”World news | The Guardian: ““As a Black woman who began my career here in this very department, it is especially painful and disheartening to hear concerns from our community about racism coming from within the ranks of this organization,” Patterson said.”
SupportedPatterson said, “We will not allow the misconduct of a few to define the whole.”World news | The Guardian: ““We will not allow the misconduct of a few to define the whole.””
SupportedNone of the officers have been charged with criminal wrongdoing related to the text exchanges.World news | The Guardian: “So far, none of the officers have been charged with any criminal wrongdoing in relation to the text exchanges.”