Perry County Man Awarded $835,000 After Improper Arrest, Jailing

LINDEN, Tenn. — A retired police officer who spent over a month in jail after Tennessee authorities misinterpreted a political Facebook meme has secured a major legal victory.

Larry Bushart, 61, will receive an $835,000 payout to resolve a federal civil rights lawsuit filed against Tennessee's Perry County, Sheriff Nick Weems, and Investigator Jason Morrow. The settlement comes after felony charges against the veteran law enforcement officer were dropped late last year amid intense national scrutiny over free speech violations.

The legal battle stemmed from a September 2025 social media post. Following a local community controversy regarding a political event, Bushart shared a widely circulated meme to criticize public reactions.

The image featured President Donald Trump alongside his quote, "We have to get over it." Text on the meme specified that the remarks were made following the January 2024 mass shooting at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa. Bushart added the caption: "This seems relevant today..."

The post was made after Charlie Kirk's death. Local authorities claimed the online post triggered immediate panic among residents, who confused the reference to the Iowa school with their own local institution, Perry County High School in Linden, Tennessee. When Bushart refused demands from law enforcement to delete the post, he was arrested.

The federal lawsuit, filed on Bushart’s behalf by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), alleged that Investigator Jason Morrow intentionally left out vital context from the arrest warrant.

Despite Sheriff Weems later acknowledging to reporters that he knew Bushart was not making an actual threat against the local Tennessee school, Bushart’s bail was set at an unprecedented $2 million.

Unable to afford the bail for release, the retired officer spent 37 days behind bars in maximum security. During his incarceration, Bushart lost his post-retirement job, missed his wedding anniversary, and was absent for the birth of his granddaughter.

Bushart said following the settlement. "I know my rights, and I was arrested for nothing more than refusing to be bullied into censorship."

The felony charges were dropped in October when District Attorney General Hans Schwendimann declined to prosecute the case.