Police investigate flier distributed in Middletown

Via Nancy

Middletown police say they have “concerns” about a flier that began appearing around town Monday from the “White Guard,” a group claiming it would protect white people from black criminals.

The flier, obtained by the Journal-News, references the May 13 arson in which a group of neighborhood juveniles allegedly set fire to the Roosevelt Avenue home of Jennifer Chitwood, a white mother of two children.

Thaddeus Shields, 18, of 1327 Woodlawn Ave., and a 17-year-old male were both arrested and charged for the crime a day later. But Shields had the charges against him dropped because an eyewitness lied about seeing him at the scene, and police said there was credible evidence he was not involved. However, the 17-year-old, who police said is bi-racial, remains in custody charged with unruly to wit aggravated arson.