Charles Robertson

Biography Early life and education Born and raised in York, Robertson was the youngest of six boys to his parents Milford (Hap, a school janitor) and Margretta. When Robertson was 15, his father was robbed and beaten by three black men while walking home from work, to which he attributes his early views regarding race. He graduated in 1952 from William Penn Senior High School in York and spent two years as a medic in the United States Army. Robertson began a 29-year career with the York Police Department in 1962. He regularly mentored children, and parents trusted him, which greatly helped his later involvement in politics. Robertson did not want to withdraw from the election, though his closest political supporters convinced him to do so "for the betterment of York". He was arrested on May 17, 2001, and released on $50,000 bail. On May 27, 2001, Robertson was arraigned on murder charges stemming from his involvement in the riot; he was found not guilty on October 19, 2002.

Robertson died on August 24, 2017, at Manor Care South in York, Pennsylvania at the age of 83, after being diagnosed with cancer about two years earlier.