Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Press Release Re: William Parsons Arrest
Aaron Ellenburg
Sheriff
Randall Greenway
Chief Deputy
Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office Press Release 10/14/2024
On October 12, 2024, the Rutherford County Communications Center received a call at approximately 12:54 PM stating that a white male had an assault rifle and made the comment about possibly harming FEMA employees working after the disaster of Hurricane Helene in the Lake Lure and Chimney Rock area. Once deputies of the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Office were made aware, the deputies alerted officers with the Lake Lure Police Department and other law enforcement officers from other agencies helping with relief efforts.
A deputy went to the location of where the threat was made, which was located in Polk County and obtained more information. The deputy was able to get a color of the vehicle the subject was driving and pass the vehicle color along to all the law enforcement agencies working.
Approximately an hour later, the Sheriff’s Office received information regarding the tag of the suspect vehicle.
After additional information was obtained law enforcement was able to identify the suspect. The suspect was identified as William Jacob Parsons 44-year-old W/M of Bostic North Carolina. Parsons was arrested and charged with Going Armed to the Terror of the Public. Parsons was armed with a handgun and a rifle.
Parsons was transported to the Rutherford County Sheriff’s Detention Center where he was charged and presented to a magistrate. Parsons received a $10,000 dollar secured bond. Parsons made bond and was released later the same evening from the Rutherford County Detention Center.
The initial report stated there was a truck load of militia that was involved. However, after further investigation, it was determined Parsons acted alone and there were no truck loads of militia going to Lake Lure.