Man arrested after Facebook comment quoting President Trump

A Facebook comment quoting President Trump cost a man his freedom. Part of a sheriff's new explanation was just contradicted by police. Good evening and welcome to News 2 at 6. I'm Bob Mueller. Larry Bushart has been in jail since September 21st. His bond is $2 million. The Perry County Sheriff's Office claimed he threatened mass violence at a school. News 2's Mik Cal Smith reports. Bush Hart seemed confused when police told him.

This is 38 days ago. Lexington police are about to arrest Larry Bush Hart. His supporters say he is a retired law enforcement officer. He is also critical of the Trump

administration just on the day of his arrest. He posted dozens of memes to Facebook. I'm sure there yes,

so Perry County has called back again. OK, and they've ended up issuing a warrant for you. OK, so you're gonna have to come with us. Will get booked in. Will get all this figured out.

And then you'll have to take it up with them in their court, OK?

OK.

We gotta come in with you if you're gonna go back in though.

That's fine, you'll be coming with

me in carpet in the morning,

so we need.

In body camera video released by police to News 2, Larry and his wife do not ask many questions. They seem to know why he's getting arrested a few hours earlier. Larry said Lexington police visited

him regarding a Facebook post. Just call me. I'll have my phone, OK?

Thank you all.

And he thinks that it's just, you know, freedom of speech, tell him, you know, this is. Yeah, but like he was saying earlier, we kind of have nothing to do with it.

I understand.

I understand.

Look, it's just y'all's job.

I mean, y'all have to do what, yeah.

But hopefully it works out for y'all. I hope so. I hope so too.

Thank you. Yes ma'am.

A court affidavit ties Larry's arrest back to Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems. In a community Facebook group, someone posted about a vigil for a conservative commentator, Charlie Kirk. Larry commented, the sheriff saw it and messaged an investigator. We do not have access to the Facebook group to see Larry's comment for ourselves, but based on the quotes in the affidavit, Larry appears to have shared this meme from the gun safety group Everytown. It quotes President Trump saying, we have to get over it one day after the Perry High

School mass shooting, according to the court affidavit, Larry said. This seems relevant today.

We're going to need multiple ambulances,

multiple bricks and down every towns meme references a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa in 2024. A 17 year old boy killed two people and wounded six others before killing himself. President Donald Trump spoke about the shooting at a campaign event.

It's just horrible to see that happening. That's just horrible. So surprising to see it here, but I have to get over it. We have to get over it. We have to move forward.

The affidavit accuses Larry of threatening mass violence at school. The arresting officer told him just as the body camera video ended.

And just clarify. This is what they told you. Threatening mass violence at school. At school, it's referring to a school. I have no idea. I know that's what they've called us for,

and I ain't got a clue. I played on Facebook.

I threatened no one. I know you don't give a.

I get a clue. I just I just had to do it.

I have to do.

I've been in Facebook. I'm not saying you did or didn't do anything. That's what I'm saying. I'm not saying you did or did not commit a crime. I may have been a but that's not illegal.

That was Nickell Smith reporting. The Perry County Sheriff sent a statement to news too. It reads in part quote Mr. Bush Hart was not brought to our attention simply because of his speech, but for the public

repercussions of that speech. We coordinated with other departments to approach Mr Bush Hart and provide options to de escalate the situation before an arrest was made. Mr Bush Hart declined to clarify his public messages and calm the situation that was causing multiple reasonable citizens to be in fear of their children's safety at school." You can read the full statement at WKRN.com. Now we asked the sheriff which agency he worked with to ask Bushart to de-escalate

or clarify his post because that was not mentioned in the affidavit or body camera video. The sheriff said Lexington police. We asked Lexington's police chief if his agency was involved with that. He said no. Bush Hart is due back in court in December. In the meantime, he remains in jail on a $2 million in court in December. In the meantime, he remains in jail on a $2 million bond.