William Jacob Parsons, the North Carolina man who was arrested over threats he made to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has spoken out after being released on bond.
The 44-year-old was charged with “going armed to the terror of the public” on Saturday afternoon after he called for people to “overtake” the FEMA site in the town of Lake Lure amid ongoing misinformation about the federal response to hurricanes that recently struck the southeast.
When Parsons got to the FEMA site at Lake Lure, he ended up volunteering. However, the police had already been made aware of his threat and arrested him after he was found armed with a handgun and a rifle, Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office said.
Newsweek has contacted FEMA for any further comment.
After being released on a $10,000 bond, he spoke to Fox8 and explained that he believed FEMA was failing to help hurricane victims.
He said: “I viewed it as if our people are sitting here on American soil, and they’re refusing to aid our people. So we were going to go up there and forcefully remove that fence.”
But, after he “went up and saw that there was absolutely nothing there,” he “stayed and volunteered all day.”
Parsons added: “They want to sit here and lie and say I was carrying guns around. I had one gun on me, which was legally owned and sitting on the side of my hip, and I had a rifle and another pistol that were in my vehicle that were both lawful and legal to own.”
William Jacob Parsons’ mugshot. The North Carolina man has spoken out after being released on a $10,000 bond.
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office
Before going to the FEMA site, Parsons had posted on Facebook: “We the people are sick and tired of the BS. We the people are seeking volunteers to join us and overtake the FEMA site in Lake Lure and send the products up the mountains this Saturday.
“We the people are done playing games. It’s time to show who we are and what we believe. They want to screw our citizens. Now, we return the favor.”
FEMA confirmed to Newsweek that it adjusted operations at multiple sites in response to threats to its workers amid rampant misinformation about the agency’s response to Hurricanes Helene and Milton.
Ashe County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement: “We wanted to address the current issues being spread about FEMA in Ashe County. As a response, they have been here to help and assist those in need. Recently in the mountain region, there have been threats made against them.
“This has not happened in Ashe County or the surrounding counties. Out of an abundance of caution, they have paused their process as they are assessing the threats. Stay calm and steady during our recovery, help folks and please don’t stir the pot.”
North Carolina’s Governor Roy Cooper said he has directed the Department of Public Safety to work with law enforcement and FEMA to identify “specific threats and rumors” and “ensure safety and security as this recovery effort continues.”
“We are aware of significant misinformation online and reports of threats to response workers on the ground, and the safety of responders must be taken seriously,” Cooper said.
In the wake of Hurricane Helene, misinformation has included false claims that the federal government is deliberately withholding aid from Republican areas.
Presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump and other Republicans have criticized FEMA’s response, saying without evidence that the agency’s disaster relief funding is being diverted to migrants or foreign conflicts. FEMA has denied the claim, saying it has “a dedicated fund for disaster efforts.”
FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell previously said: “We have thousands of people on the ground, not just federal, but also our volunteers in the private sector.
“And, frankly, that type of rhetoric is demoralizing to our staff who have left their families to come here and help the people of North Carolina. And we will be here as long as they’re needed.”
