CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD) has publicly identified seven current and former officers connected to an investigation involving racist, sexist, and religiously biased text messages. The disclosures follow an internal investigation that resulted in six officers being recommended for termination, four subsequent resignations, and continuing administrative reviews.
The department released personnel information on October 19, 2026, pursuant to North Carolina public records law. The disclosures came after CMPD Chief Estella Patterson publicly addressed the allegations and outlined the department’s disciplinary response.
According to CMPD and local reporting, the investigation originated from a separate North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) inquiry involving a former officer’s alleged misuse of Flock automated license plate reader technology.
As of October 20, no criminal charges have been publicly reported against the seven officers specifically in connection with the text messages. One former officer faces separate criminal allegations related to unauthorized computer access.
Six CMPD Officers Recommended for Termination
On October 9, CMPD cited six officers for termination following an administrative investigation into their involvement in the text-message conversations.
Four subsequently resigned. Two remain suspended without pay pending review before the Civil Service Board.
The department released the following employment and disciplinary information.
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Officers Who Resigned
- Mateo Juarez: Hired February 26, 2024. Assigned to administrative duty August 10, 2026, and suspended without pay October 9. Resigned October 15.
- Joseph Kelly: Hired February 26, 2024. Suspended without pay October 9, 2026. Resigned October 11.
- Tredan Maronic: Hired February 26, 2024. Assigned to administrative duty August 7, 2026, and suspended without pay October 9. Resigned October 13.
- Matthew Osborn: Hired September 5, 2023. Suspended without pay October 9, 2026. Resigned October 12.
Officers Awaiting Civil Service Board Review
- Alexander Larsen: Hired June 26, 2023. Assigned to paid administrative duty August 17, 2026, before being suspended without pay October 9. His employment status remains subject to Civil Service Board review.
- Jeremiah Todman: Hired June 27, 2022. Assigned to paid administrative duty August 18, 2026, before being suspended without pay October 9. His employment status remains subject to Civil Service Board review.
Neither Larsen nor Todman had been publicly confirmed as terminated or resigned as of the latest verified reporting.
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Seventh Officer Identified Following Separate Criminal Investigation
CMPD also identified former officer Seth Elliott as connected to the text-message investigation.
Elliott was hired February 26, 2024.
On July 29, 2026, the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation arrested Elliott on allegations involving illegal access to a government computer in connection with suspected misuse of Flock camera technology.
CMPD placed Elliott on unpaid administrative leave following his arrest. He resigned August 4 while the department’s administrative investigation was ongoing.
The computer-access allegations constitute a separate criminal matter. Elliott’s arrest does not establish guilt, and his involvement in the text-message investigation does not establish that he personally authored any particular message.
How Investigators Discovered the Messages
According to local reporting, SBI investigators discovered the communications while examining evidence associated with Elliott’s alleged misuse of Flock technology.
Investigators subsequently brought the messages to CMPD’s attention, prompting a separate internal administrative investigation.
Chief Patterson has described the text-message exchanges as having occurred over several years and involving racially offensive language, sexist remarks, and religiously biased comments.
The reported content included repeated racial slurs.
WBTV previously reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the investigation, that some messages allegedly referenced a competition involving traffic stops of Black motorists.
However, the complete text-message conversations have not been publicly released, and the available information does not establish which individual officers authored particular statements.
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Individual Responsibility for Messages Remains Unclear
Although CMPD has disclosed the names of the seven officers, important details concerning their individual participation have not been publicly established.
Those unresolved details include:
- Which officer or officers initiated the conversations.
- Which participants authored specific racist, sexist, or religiously biased messages.
- The number and frequency of messages attributable to each individual.
- Whether individual officers actively participated in particular conversations or were recipients of messages.
- Whether statements made in the communications corresponded to actual on-duty conduct.
CMPD’s personnel disclosures establish the department’s disciplinary actions and the officers’ reported involvement in the investigation. They do not independently establish that every identified officer made the same statements or participated to the same extent.
Federal Authorities Examine Possible Civil Rights Violations
The allegations have raised questions concerning whether discriminatory attitudes expressed in private communications affected officers’ interactions with members of the public.
During a news conference, Chief Patterson was asked whether investigators had identified evidence that officers specifically targeted Black motorists.
Patterson stated that the department had investigated the issue and had not identified evidence supporting that allegation.
CMPD has similarly reported that its investigation had not established civil rights violations resulting from the officers’ conduct.
However, federal authorities, including the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, have been examining possible civil rights concerns associated with the allegations.
The existence of an investigation does not establish that a civil rights violation occurred. Likewise, an initial finding that evidence is insufficient does not necessarily determine the outcome of subsequent reviews.
District Attorney Reviewing Criminal Cases Involving Officers
The controversy has also prompted scrutiny of criminal cases involving the affected officers.
According to WSOC-TV reporting on October 15, Mecklenburg County District Attorney Spencer Merriweather’s office began examining pending and previously adjudicated criminal matters involving the officers.
Such reviews may consider whether information about an officer’s credibility, potential bias, or disciplinary history could be material to criminal proceedings.
Depending on the circumstances, information relevant to a prosecution witness’s credibility may trigger disclosure obligations under established constitutional requirements.
A review of past cases does not, by itself, establish that arrests were unlawful, testimony was false, or convictions were improperly obtained.
No comprehensive findings from the district attorney’s review have been publicly confirmed in the reporting examined for this article.
NAACP Calls for Accountability and Certification Review
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg chapter of the NAACP has publicly criticized the reported communications and called for additional accountability.
The organization’s president, Rev. Corine Mack, has urged authorities to prevent officers found responsible for serious misconduct from obtaining employment with other law enforcement agencies.
Mack has also called for outside scrutiny and action involving the officers’ state law enforcement certifications.
Chief Patterson has publicly indicated that she intends to pursue measures to prevent officers responsible for the misconduct from continuing in law enforcement.
However, a departmental termination recommendation and the revocation of a state law enforcement certification are separate administrative processes.
As of the latest verified reporting, final certification revocations had not been established.
CMPD Reviewing Department Policies, Hiring and Officer Conduct
Beyond the individual disciplinary cases, CMPD has reportedly initiated broader examinations of internal practices.
According to reporting by WFAE and WSOC-TV, these reviews include officer communications, body-worn camera recordings, hiring procedures, and training standards.
The department is examining whether the reported communications reflect isolated misconduct or indicate broader organizational concerns.
The existence of these reviews does not establish misconduct by other CMPD employees.
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Current Status — October 20, 2026
Based on CMPD disclosures and available reporting, the investigation stands as follows:
- Seven officers identified: Six cited for termination and former officer Seth Elliott, who resigned earlier in August.
- Four disciplinary resignations: Juarez, Kelly, Maronic, and Osborn.
- Two officers suspended: Larsen and Todman remain suspended without pay pending Civil Service Board review.
- Separate criminal case: Elliott faces allegations involving unlawful computer access related to Flock technology.
- Text-message criminal charges: None publicly confirmed against the seven officers in connection with the messages.
- Civil rights review: Federal scrutiny has been reported; no resulting criminal charges have been confirmed.
- Criminal case review: The Mecklenburg County District Attorney’s Office is reviewing matters involving the implicated officers.
- Certification status: Potential state certification action remains unresolved in the available reporting.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many CMPD officers were involved in the racist text-message investigation?
CMPD publicly identified seven current and former officers. Six were cited for termination on October 9, 2026. A seventh officer, Seth Elliott, had previously resigned during a separate investigation.
Were all seven officers fired?
No. Four of the six officers cited for termination resigned, and two remain suspended without pay pending administrative review. Elliott resigned in August during an earlier investigation.
Have the officers been criminally charged over the messages?
No criminal charges specifically arising from the text messages have been publicly confirmed. Elliott was separately arrested on allegations involving unauthorized computer access.
Did the officers actually target Black motorists?
WBTV reported allegations involving statements about traffic stops of Black motorists. However, Chief Patterson stated that CMPD’s investigation had not identified evidence supporting claims that officers actually engaged in such targeting.
Have the complete text messages been released?
The complete communications have not been made publicly available in the reporting reviewed. Consequently, the specific authorship and participation of individual officers remain unclear.
Can officers lose their state law enforcement certifications?
Potentially. State certification authorities have separate procedures governing an officer’s eligibility to serve. Any revocation would require the applicable administrative process; termination or resignation alone should not be described as a completed revocation.
Sources and Related Reporting
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department — October 19 Personnel Records Announcement
- WSOC-TV — CMPD Releases Names of Seven Officers
- WFAE — CMPD Identifies Officers Connected to Investigation
- WSOC-TV — District Attorney Reviewing Related Criminal Cases
- WBTV — Initial Reporting on Alleged Text Messages
- North Carolina General Statute § 160A-168 — Municipal Employee Personnel Records
Cop Talk LIVE will continue following the administrative proceedings, federal investigative developments, and any confirmed findings involving the officers or criminal cases affected by the investigation.
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