As the nearly 65,000 residents of hard-hit Rutherford County, North Carolina, struggle to clear endless mud and debris left behind by Hurricane Helene, help hit a roadblock. Federal Emergency Management Agency crews were forced to relocate due to a reported armed threat against workers, first reported by The Washington Post.

An email sent by the U.S. Forest Service to federal responders in Rutherford County alerted them of an apparent standdown after National Guard troops reportedly encountered armed militia saying they were “hunting FEMA.”

One person has been arrested in connection to the threat, CBS News confirmed on Monday.

The man suspected of making the threat was identified as William Parsons, 44, of Bostic, North Carolina. He was arrested and charged with going armed to the terror of the public.

The sheriff’s office said Parsons was armed with a handgun and a rifle when he was arrested. He was released on a $10,000 bond.

    • Nougat@fedia.io
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      1 month ago

      I feel like making armed threats against workers for the Federal Emergency Management Agency should be a federal crime.

      And it seems like this was a bunch of people “hunting FEMA,” but only one got arrested?

      • eestileib@sh.itjust.works
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        1 month ago

        Threatening a federal employee on the job already is a federal crime.

        Merrick Garland’s DOJ might start looking into it in 2027 or so.

        • CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          If it’s anything like the J6 terrorists, they might round up about 60% of them within the next 3 years and then give them light slaps on the wrist.

          I guess it’s a good thing none of these “patriots” were suspected of passing bad checks or selling loosies. They might have died from a knee on the neck.