RALEIGH, N.C. — Sheriff’s deputies near Lake Lure and Chimney Rock have arrested a 44-year-old man for threatening FEMA officials working in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

In a Monday news release, officials in Rutherford County said initial reports described truckloads of militia in the area, as was reported in several national media outlets.

They now believe William Jacob Parsons of Bostic, North Carolina, acted alone.

On Saturday, deputies said, an emergency call came into Rutherford County saying a man with an assault rifle was talking about harming FEMA agents.

Deputies and police tracked the threat to nearby Polk County, where they got a description of the suspect’s car and later his license tag number.

Parsons, carrying a rifle and handgun, was charged with going armed to the terror of the public, a misdemeanor. He was released after posting a $10,000 bond.

Chimney Rock suffered some of the worst damage from Helene after a wall of water took out most of Main Street. Debris filled Lake Lure, much of it destroyed buildings.

Since then, the town has also fought false rumors that government officials had seized it to obtain lithium — one of many bits of misinformation surrounding the storm.

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