The Intercept and Nashville’s CBS affiliate, Newschannel 5, secured bodycam footage from a Lexington Cop that corroborates Wems’ narrative. The footage clearly showed that the officer did not understand why the Perry County Sheriff took issue with Facebook Parliament.
“So, I’m going to be completely honest with you,” Cop told Bushwart. “I don’t really know what they’re talking about. He just called me and said there was something about the post being made…”
Bumart clarified that it was possible that his Facebook posts, mocking the idea that someone had called the police to report his meme. A Lexington official told Bushwart he wasn’t sure if the Facebook post was “directed at you,” but “they said there was some emphasis on violence.”
“No, there wasn’t,” Bumart replied, then added, “I can’t take it.”
The officer, not even looking at the Facebook post, told Bushwart, “I don’t care. This has nothing to do with me.” But the police officer’s indifference did not prevent the Lexington police from taking Busart into custody, flogging him, and sending him to Weem’ under the state law that passes through the classroom to make threats against schools,” the Tennessee report said.
“Just to be clear, this is what they ordered,” a Porry County Jail officer told Bushwart – in a transcript reviewed by The Interpt – “
“At school?” When asked.
“I don’t have a clue,” said the officer, laughing. “I just have to do what I have to do.”
“I’ve been in Facebook prison, but now I’m in it,” said Bumart, joining the lineup.
Police knew the meme wasn’t dangerous
Lexington police said: He faces bodycam footage, charges he refuses to lie, says his promoter must have been wrong, Newschannel 5 reported.
Weem later admitted to Newschannel 5 that “investigators didn’t know the meme wasn’t about high school” and sought Bushwart’s arrest anyway, allegedly hoping to explain “people in the community who misrepresented it.” That’s as close as you pay it seems as though his intent was to destroy the post.
