Sheriff drops case against retired officer arrested over Trump meme after story goes viral

After spending more than a month in a Tennessee jail, a retired law enforcement officer who quoted President Donald Trump on Facebook is no longer facing charges.

Perry County Sheriff Nick Weems told NewsChannel 5 that he dropped the charges against Larry Bushart on Wednesday. The sudden move came after Bushart's story went viral on social media.

In September, Perry County deputies arrested Bushart after he responded to the murder of Charlie Kirk by posting a meme quoting Trump.

"We have to get over it," the quote from Trump said, referring to a 2024 mass shooting at Perry High School in Iowa. Weems, however, claimed that members of the community had interpreted the post as a threat to shoot up Perry High School in Tennessee.

In an interview with NewsChannel 5, the sheriff acknowledged that he knew that Bushart had not threatened a mass shooting.

Weems claimed that officers from Lexington had been sent to Bushart's home to inform him that the post was being perceived as a threat — and he refused to take it down.

NewsChannel 5 later obtained video of the Lexington officer's initial encounter with Bushart that contradicted the sheriff.

"So, I'm just going to be completely honest with you," the Lexington officer stated at the time. "I have really no idea what they are talking about. He had just called me and said there was some concerning posts that were made."

Weems admitted on Wednesday that he had not seen the Lexington officer's body cam footage before charging Bushart.

According to NewsChannel 5, Bushart lost his job doing medical transport because he was unable to post a $2 million bond to get out of jail.