A St. Joseph County gas station is trying to fend off a Ku Klux Klan group that continues to put recruitment information in and around the business without permission.

A concerned viewer reached out to NewsCenter 16, retelling his account of finding several business cards for the National Knights of the Ku Klux Klan jammed inside a credit card reader at the The Village Pantry located at U.S. 20 and Quince Road late Saturday night.

One of the cards indicates the group is a church and is an incorporated business.

The Village Pantry staff told NewsCenter 16 someone has put KKK literature inside the gas station's restrooms, and in the candy and chip aisles.

The assistant manager called the issue frustrating, unwelcome and said they have yet to catch whomever is doing this. She said the leaflets began appearing last week.

Roughly a month ago, St. Joseph County Sheriff Bill Redman received a plastic bag given to County Commissioner Dave Thomas, who represents people living in the vicinity of The Village Pantry gas station. Redman said those residents have found plastic bags on their properties containing KKK information. It appears the same imperial wizard, Ray Larsen, is behind the distribution to the residents and gas station customers, given that the P.O. box addresses are the same.

"I don't think this is necessarily a safety issue, but I think people need to be aware these materials are being distributed through our community. If, at any time, anybody does feel fearful or threatened, please contact the local police. Let us come out and investigate it," Redman said.

The KKK disseminating the material is not illegal, Redman emphasized. He said other groups will put their advertisements in public places or on people's properties (for example, political candidates and other businesses).

NewsCenter 16 sent a message to the imperial wizard, Ray Larsen, whose email address appears to be invalid. The website listed on his business cards also was not working.