A well-known local activist believes he was wrongly arrested and charged for exercising his right to protest. Two years later, he’s taking that claim to federal court.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide is back on the job after being suspended for comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests. Shelide returned to work on Friday and protesters showed up on Monday in opposition. At one point, protesters shut down a major intersection. On Monday, protesters marched up and down Van Dyke. The march culminated at Van Dyke and 23 Mile Road, where protesters shut the intersection down.

Protesters gather in Shelby Township after police chief Robert Shelide’s suspension endsPublished: July 20, 2020, 11:16 pmShelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide is back on the job after being suspended for comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide is back on the job after being suspended for comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests. READ: Shelby Township trustees vote to suspend police chief after anti-protest tweetsOn Monday, Shelide went to work and several protesters showed up to voice their opposition to that. Shelide was suspended in June, he was ordered to go 30 days without pay and was ordered to go to cultural and sensitivity training. READ: Opposing protesters face-off in Shelby TownshipShelide had a personal Twitter account where he posted inflammatory statements regarding the civil unrest around the country. The township supervisor said that the Tweets were unprofessional and could be considered racially insensitive and derogatory.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Protests took a turn in Shelby Township when people calling for the firing of the city’s police chief were met by counter protesters. Protesters gathered in front of Shelby Township Municipal Offices to call for the firing of police chief Robert Shelide and trustee John Vermeulen. READ: Opposing protesters face-off in Shelby TownshipThe fence immediately got trampled down. It led to some heated exchanges with counter protesters. Including, an incident where a man shoved a bottle of water in a young woman’s face and then she punched him.

Protests against police chief, trustee escalate in Shelby TownshipPublished: July 1, 2020, 11:13 pmProtests took a turn in Shelby Township when people calling for the firing of the city’s police chief were met by counter protesters.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide was suspended. The decision was made on Tuesday night by the Shelby Township Board of Trustees in a vote of 5-2. READ: Shelby Township police chief on paid leave, could face further disciplinary action over social media postsA meeting was held on Tuesday night where the Township Board decided if chief Shelide will keep his job or not. The township supervisor said that the Tweets were unprofessional and could be considered racially insensitive and derogatory. READ: Shelby Township police chief on paid leave over social media comments about George Floyd protests

Shelby Township trustees vote to suspend police chiefPublished: June 16, 2020, 11:30 pmShelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide was suspended. The decision was made on Tuesday night by the Shelby Township Board of Trustees in a vote of 5-2.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township’s police chief was placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation into alleged comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests across the country. UPDATE: Shelby Township trustees vote to suspend police chiefA meeting was held on Tuesday night where the Township Board is expected to decide if chief Robert Shelide will keep his job or not. The township supervisor said that the Tweets were unprofessional and could be considered racially insensitive and derogatory. READ: Shelby Township police chief on paid leave, could face further disciplinary action over social media postsThose who support Shelide view those tweets as directed at rioters and looters. READ: Shelby Township police chief on paid leave over social media comments about George Floyd protests

Shelby Township trustees to make decision on police chief accused of posting inflammatory tweetsPublished: June 16, 2020, 11:14 pmShelby Township’s police chief was placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation into alleged comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests across the country.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township’s police chief was placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation into alleged comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests across the country. One of the alleged tweets from Chief Robert Shelide referred to people in a photo as “wild savages” and talked about “body bags for these vicious subhumans." READ: Shelby Township police chief on paid leave over social media comments about George Floyd protestsShelide released a statement on Thursday noting that “an apology is insufficient and an insult to the gravity of my comments." He asked for the “courtesy of forgiveness” regarding the inflammatory comments he made on Twitter. My record speaks to the commitment and professionalism that I have exhibited for more than 30 years without incident, both of which were compromised by my emotion.

Shelby Township police chief on leave after inflammatory tweets surfacePublished: June 4, 2020, 6:10 pmShelby Township’s police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation into alleged comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests across the country.

SHELBY TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Shelby Township’s police chief has been placed on paid administrative leave during an investigation into alleged comments he made on social media about the George Floyd protests across the country. Police brutality protests prompted Twitter user Bobby S. to say, “This makes me want to vomit. Please pray.”Shelby Township police Chief Robert Shelide (Shelby Township Police Department)“I would hit them with tear gas and water cannons, rubber bullets,” Bobby S. replied. It’s a for of surrender.”The Bobby S. account replied, “100% agree. “The core of all of our beliefs as Americans is due process, presumption of innocents and equal protection under the law and the right of freedom of expression,” Shelby Township spokesperson Brad Bates said.