Former Cop Sues Sheriff's Office Over 37-Day Detention for Online Meme

Larry Bushart, a former law enforcement officer, has filed a lawsuit against the Perry County Sheriff's Office, alleging that he was wrongfully jailed for 37 days for posting a meme on a Facebook group that referenced a 2024 school shooting. Bushart was arrested and charged with inciting mass hysteria after he posted a string of memes, including one featuring an image of former President Donald Trump with a quote saying "We have to get over it" about a school shooting. The post was made in response to a Facebook vigil for Charlie Kirk, a conservative commentator, which Bushart felt received more attention than other victims of gun violence. According to the lawsuit, Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems knew that Bushart's post referenced a prior school shooting, but maintained that it incited mass hysteria from parents concerned that Bushart was threatening violence at a local high school. Weems had justified the arrest and a $2 million bond, which Bushart was unable to pay, by painting Bushart as indifferent to the supposed hysteria. However, Bushart's lawyer claims that the sheriff's office had a vendetta against Bushart, who had previously been a police officer, and that the charges were trumped up as a form of retaliation. Bushart lost his post-retirement job as a result of the arrest, and he is seeking damages for wrongful imprisonment, emotional distress, and loss of livelihood. The lawsuit also alleges that the sheriff's office engaged in a pattern of harassment and intimidation against Bushart, who had previously been a vocal critic of the department. The incident has raised concerns about the use of social media and the limits of free speech. "This case highlights the dangers of over-criminalization and the erosion of civil liberties," said a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union. "Law enforcement agencies must be held accountable for their actions, and individuals must be protected from retaliatory prosecution." The lawsuit is the latest development in a case that has sparked debate about the role of law enforcement in policing online speech. The Perry County Sheriff's Office has not commented on the lawsuit, but a spokesperson for the department has maintained that the arrest was justified and that Bushart's actions were a threat to public safety. The case is currently pending in court, and a hearing is scheduled for early next year. Bushart's lawyer has vowed to continue fighting for his client's rights and to expose what he claims is a pattern of abuse of power by the sheriff's office.